Government accused of economic discrimination

Bolgatanga, Dec 15, GNA - The Concerned Association of Upper Regions (CYAUR) on Thursday presented what it termed "Economic Discrimination Petition" to the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Boniface Gambila, for President John Agyekum Kofuor.

The petition, jointly signed by the President and the Secretary of the Association, Mr. Bismark Ayorogo Adongo and Mr. Joseph Konnuba respectively, alleged that before October 2002 the government disbursed 117 billion cedis to district assemblies in the country to finance poverty reduction projects.

Out of the amount the three northern regions were entitled to 38. 5 billion cedis as indicated by the Ghana Poverty Strategy (GPRS) formula but they received only 24 billion cedis.

Under the HIPC funded projects, 1,516 projects were supposed to be executed nationwide and out of this the three northern regions were entitled to 728 projects but only 258 projects were executed. In 2002 out of 166 agricultural projects undertaken throughout the country, the two upper regions were exempted.

The two upper regions are also exempted from benefiting from the Millennium Challenge Account.

The petition said the three northern regions have not benefited from any project under the President's Special Initiative. It appealed to the government to release the remaining amount under the poverty reduction projects and the HIPC to the district assemblies. The petition called on the government to equally give much attention to shear nut as it does with the cocoa sector in the southern sector, saying the shear nut sector, when giving special attention, could generate more foreign exchange for the country than cocoa. The petition appealed to the government to expedite action on the implementation of the PSI on cotton and guinea fowl rearing in the north as promised long ago.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the President, Mr Dery assured the CYAUR that it would be forwarded to the appropriate quarters for redress.
Before presenting the petition, the group demonstrated through some of the streets of Bolgatanga under tight security from about 500 police personnel. 15 Dec 06