GOV’T WILL MAKE STRATEGIC INVESTMENT IN ZONGO COMMUNITIES — AYARIGA

He said the investment would be targeted at improving physical infrastructure, drainage, sanitation and human capital development. The Bawku Central Member of Parliament (MP) and former Majority Leader stressed that Zongo communities had enormous human resource potential that could be leveraged for sustainable national development if the appropriate policies were implemented. "President John Dramani Mahama has handed me the opportunity to complete the journey I started about 30 years ago to make a change in Zongo communities, and I will take that opportunity to help reverse the state of social and economic injustices suffered by women, youth and the entire Zongo communities," he said. Zongo chiefs conference The minister was speaking at the national conference of Zongo chiefs held in Accra last Thursday, where pertinent challenges confronting Zongo communities were discussed. The conference, which was on the theme: "The Zongo Development Agenda," was under the auspices of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. Among the issues that were raised were abject poverty, the lack of educational facilities, inadequate representation in local governance and a negative tag, especially on the youth. The conference participants underscored the need for deliberate steps to be taken to reverse the trend and give Zongo communities a facelift. Bridging the gap Mr Ayariga said the inequality gap in the country, especially among women and young people in Zongo communities, could be addressed through collaboration between the government and their leaders. “The President, John Mahama, has told me to do my best during my tenure as Local Government Minister to uplift the image of Zongo communities, and I will do just that," he said. Mr Ayariga added that steps would be taken to redevelop Zongo communities such as Nima and Mamobi to make them more habitable. "We can redevelop the Zongo communities into modern areas for habitation without taking anyone out. If we do not do so, we will continue to have drainage and flooding issues, the challenge of managing traffic and making the city more sustainable," he said. Mr Ayariga emphasised that efforts to redevelop the communities would be led by the people with resource support from the government. Youth investment The Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, called for targeted investment in the youth in Zongos to make them potent vessels for national development. He said the future of Zongo communities was their youth, and they had to be empowered, emphasising that the development strategy must be targeted at harnessing the potential of the youth. The Ga Mantse stressed that rather than chastising the youth in Zongo communities and painting them in a negative light, they needed to be supported to contribute meaningfully to the development of society. He also called for special attention to be given to women in those communities to unleash their entrepreneurial capabilities. "They must be given access to capital, skills training and entrepreneurship, so that they will reach their potential and contribute significantly to the development of the society," he said. He added that Zongo communities must be able to maintain their traditional identity, even in the phase of modernisation.