The Regional Minister for Upper East, Hon. Mark Wayongo, has applauded the Mills-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for ensuring massive infrastructural development in all sectors of the economy especially in the area of education. “For being able to undertake such massive developmental projects in education and other areas, I will score President Mills 90 out of 100,” he revealed.

According to him, more importantly, the NDC government has shown enough commitment and dedication to the development of his region, the Upper East, one among the poorest regions in the country.

The Upper East regional minister was speaking to The Catalyst in an exclusive interview in the regional capital, Bolgatanga, concerning the performance of the NDC government regarding his region’s development as well as on the 2012 budget and other issues.

He noted that there is no Senior High School (SHS) in the region that has not seen at least four massive infrastructural projects. Some of the schools, he said, have as many as seven of such new projects, adding that a brand new SHS model has been built at Navrongo, which will soon be commissioned.
According to him, government has also made significant improvement in the road network in the region, saying new roads are being constructed whiles old ones are being rehabilitated.

He said his people are even excited that the Eastern Corridor Road passes through the region at Bawku.

To him it is much impressive for the region to have shea nut roads, implying that quite a number of these roads are going to be tarred.
Hon. Wayongo disclosed to this reporter that every district is getting one hundred and seven (107) boreholes, which he describes as incredible and amazing and said the initiative will cancel the long miles people trek for water which is not even safe for drinking and consumption.

All these, he said, affirms that government has the development of the north, talking of the Upper East, Upper West and Northern regions at heart and is doing all it can to ensure it bridges the developmental gap between the North and the South.

Continuing, Hon. Wayongo mentioned that the Upper East Region, as part of the implementation of the Rural Electrification Programme, will be getting over one hundred million dollars (USD 100 million) and that a total of 500 communities will be benefitting with 50 communities in every district connected to the national grid.
Hon. Mark Wayongo described the 2012 Budget Statement as the best in two decades (twenty years). Describing the budget as friendly to the people and development oriented, he said it is aimed at impacting positively on the lives of every Ghanaian in line with the Better Ghana Agenda of the government.
He added that with this budget Ghanaians will surely attest to the impact of the policies of the government after its implementation next year and will have no choice than to retain the NDC government led by President Mills in power to continue with its pragmatic measures of ensuring economic growth and infrastructural development.

He disagreed with the notion that government’s allocation of the larger portion of the $3 Billion Chinese Development Loan to the Western Region is a tool for politically influence and bias.

To him, “the Western Region deserves that share as the region has over the years been neglected although it produces the bulk of our raw materials such as Cocoa, Timber, Minerals and now the Oil.”
He said it is very important to note that government is spreading across many development initiatives and is highly targeting the three Northern Regions who are undoubtedly poor among the others.
His plea to government is that its decision of ensuring accelerated development a priority in these regions should be maintained the benefit of the people.
Hon. Mark Wayongo was optimistic that the NDC will secure victory come the year 2012 due to the pragmatic policies, initiatives, developments ongoing in every part of the country for the benefits Ghanaians.