President John Dramani Mahama has announced a package of development initiatives aimed at improving the lives of residents in Zongo communities across the country, with planned investments in roads, education, healthcare, sanitation and economic empowerment.

Addressing thousands of worshippers at the National Eid al-Adha celebrations held at the Black Star Square in Accra on Wednesday on May 27, 2026, the President said his administration is intensifying efforts to address longstanding development challenges facing many Zongo communities.

President Mahama is committed to developing deprived communities – Haruna

For residents who have for years called for better roads, improved schools, healthcare facilities and job opportunities, the announcement offers renewed hope that critical infrastructure and social services will be brought closer to their doorsteps.

“I’m particularly pleased with the progress we are making with development initiatives in our Zongo communities,” he said.

President Mahama revealed that road construction and rehabilitation projects, together with other infrastructure works, will soon begin in various Zongo communities nationwide as part of a broader effort to improve living conditions and expand access to essential services.

According to him, the government’s vision extends beyond physical infrastructure and seeks to create opportunities that will improve the economic well-being of residents.

“We are determined to improve infrastructure, sanitation, education, healthcare and economic opportunities across all Zongos in Ghana,” he said.

One of the key announcements made by the President focused on education and employment.

He disclosed that the government, through the Youth Employment Agency, has recruited 6,000 Arabic teachers to support Islamic education while simultaneously creating jobs for young people.

The programme, he noted, is expected to grow in the coming years, providing additional employment opportunities and strengthening access to Arabic and Islamic studies in schools.

President Mahama also announced plans to construct Community Day STEM secondary schools in densely populated urban areas, including communities with large Zongo populations.

He explained that locating the schools within communities would help reduce the challenges many students face when travelling long distances to access secondary education.

“So where we have dense Zongo communities or dense urban populations, we’ll put a modern Community Day E-block STEM secondary school in the community so that the children don’t have to travel far away… They’ll go to school right there within their communities,” he said.

The President expressed gratitude to the Council of Zongo Chiefs for supporting the government’s efforts by making land available for some of the planned projects.

He further disclosed that the Zongo Development Fund and the Soya Fund are being operationalised to support small-scale businesses, traders and informal sector workers, many of whom form the backbone of economic activity within Zongo communities.

The initiatives, if fully implemented, are expected to improve access to education, create jobs, strengthen local businesses and address infrastructure deficits that have long been a concern for many residents.

NA/MA