President Nnana Akufo-Addo has said his government has righted the wrong of past government whereby zongo communities were sidelined from the budget and appealed for the support of such communities across the country for the success of his administration, as he seeks to improve their living and development standards.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the propaganda that made the rounds in the Zongos, in the run-up to the 2016 elections, to the effect that both the New Patriotic Party and he were “anti-Zongos”, has proven to be untrue, as the actions and policies undertaken by his government have been to the contrary.
“Right from the time of Kwame Nkrumah, Zongo communities have never been factored in the preparation of our national budget. The Appropriations Act for the first Akufo-Addo budget has been passed by Parliament. Zongo Development Fund is now part of our budget going forward from 2017. This money will help develop the Zongo communities,” he said.
He continued, “All these point to the fact that there is a government that has the development and the return of Ghana onto the path of progress and prosperity at its heart. This is the government that has the development of Zongos at heart. We want to create wealth and jobs for everyone. That is the task of my government.”
President Akufo-Addo made this known on Sunday, April 2, 2017, when he interacted with Zongo Chiefs and Imams in the Ashanti Region, as part of his 3-day tour of the region.
The Zongo Development Fund, as spelt out in the budget, will invest in education and training, improve infrastructure, health and sanitation, support local businesses and centres of culture and arts, and community policing and security.
“I want everyone to know that all that was said about me and the NPP were all lies. There is no iota of truth in any of them. I am grateful to God for giving me the opportunity to demonstrate to you that all that my government and my party mean well for you,” he added.
Recounting the relationship that existed between Amadu Baba, of the Muslim Association Party, Dr. J.B Danquah and Dr. K.A. Busia, which led to the formation of the United Party, President Akufo-Addo stated that “I want the friendship and bond between the NPP and Zongos to be rekindled under my era.”
He, thus, appealed for the support of Zongo communities across the country for his government, to enable him realise his vision of a “Ghana beyond aid” – a Ghana that is able to look after its people through intelligent management of the resources with which it has been endowed.
Source:Ghana/AccraFM.com
