British Govt will not withdraw support

THE British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr Rod Pullen has stated that the British Government has no intention of withdrawing or reducing their support to the Northern Region as a result of the murder of the Ya-Na at Yendi in March, this year.

He said, “we are committed to supporting the government’s poverty reduction programme especially in the north that has the highest incidence of poverty in the country.”

According to Dr Pullen, Ghana receives ?60 million development grant from the British Government annually and that, this is usually channelled into three major areas of agriculture, health and education.

The High Commissioner was responding to a question from the press during a courtesy call on the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Ketekewu in Tamale at the weekend where a number of British NGOs are operating.

Dr Pullen was in Tamale to witness a joint military parachuting exercise between members of the Ghana Armed Forces and their British counterparts. He commended the Ghana Armed Forces for exhibiting professionalism and expertise in their duties.

Dr Pullen said this is exhibited especially during peacekeeping operations where they are using their vast experience in helping to achieve peace in troubled areas of the world.

He equally expressed his satisfaction at the democratic culture in the country and commended the government for ensuring transparency, respect for human rights and efforts at economic reforms.

Mr Ketekewu expressed concern about the current situation in Dagbon and stated that, the government is committed to ensuring that a lasting solution is found to the crisis to accelerate the pace of development in the area.

He said the main causes of conflict in the region are ethnic, religious and chieftaincy matters, which he attributed to illiteracy, ignorance and poverty. The minister also said that, as a result of lack of employment opportunities in the region, the youth are being compelled to migrate to the south to engage in menial jobs for a living.

He, therefore, thanked the British Government and other partners for their development interventions to help reduce the poverty situation.

Mr Ketekewu, however, appealed for more of such support especially in the areas of education, agriculture and health.