Some people didn’t have policies for Zongos; they only shared rice and sugar - Bawumia

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has charged the people living in the various Zongo communities to ask politicians who come to them with propaganda and empty rhetoric to provide their development policy for the Zongo Community.

Addressing thousands of members of the Zongo community in Aboabo over the weekend during the 52nd commemoration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad by the Tijaaniya Muslims of Ghana, Dr. Bawumia said until the government of President Akufo-Addo came up with a national policy for the development of Zongo communities, Zongos in the past had been taken for granted by some politicians who claimed to love them but only provided sugar and tea as their development blueprint.

“When they come to you with their propaganda and empty rhetoric, ask them what is their development policy for the Zongos. Kindly ask them what was their policy and legacy for the people of Zongo when they had the opportunity to serve,” the Vice President said, in apparent reference to the opposition NDC.

“The good people of the Zongo deserve better, not lip service and occasional provision of tea, sugar and rice by opportunistic politicians without policies for our people.”

The Vice President noted that it was because of the deceit and marginalization of Zongos by opportunistic politicians that Nana Akufo-Addo came out with a development policy to help bridge the developmental gap between Zongos and other parts of the country.

“For us, we have not left the Zongos out of the development agenda of the government,” Dr. Bawumia said.

“Having realised how the Zongos were excluded and used by some politicians who claimed to have Zongo at heart, Nana Akuffo-Addo promised to create a special Ministry and a special fund to bridge the gap in development between the Zongos and other parts of the country.”

“True to his word, President Akufo-Addo has delivered by establishing the Ministry of Inner Cities and Zongo Development, as well as the Zongo Development Fund. For the first time in the history of this country, Zongos have their own budgetary allocation for development projects. And thanks to the Zongo Development Fund established by President Akufo-Addo, there are over 200 completed and on-going infrastructure and development projects in Zongos throughout the country.”

“Real, visible and traceable projects such as construction of access roads, health facilities, boreholes, recreational parks (astro turfs), water systems, class room blocks, toilet & drainage facilities, provision of street lights, desks and other educational materials, renovation of mosques and madrasats, as well as human development initiatives such as vocational training, computer literacy and public sensitisation initiatives, among many other development programs are going in many Zongos in the country across all 16 regions.”

Dr. Bawumia added that the development programs of President Akufo-Addo for the Zongos are sustainable, and designed not only to develop infrastructure and other social amenities, but also to develop human capital in the Zongos through education and training.

“These are real, sustainable development projects, which have emanated from a well thought out policy by a visionary leader, Nana Akufo-Addo and his government,” said the Vice President.

“The good people of Zongo, just like any other Ghanaian, deserve better. The strong and energetic youth, the brilliant student, the gifted athlete, the persevering parent, the hardworking artisan and the enterprising trader of our Zongos need a leader and government with progressive policies such as we have under the Zongo Development Fund to help them achieve their objectives and bring real development to our people and communities.”

Dr. Bawumia urged the people in the Zongo communities to continue to pray and support President Akufo-Addo and his government, so that they will continue to do more for them and the country.

“Let us also continue to support and pray for President Akufo-Addo and his government so that, inshaa Allah, we can stay on for 4 more years and do more for the good people of Zongo and Ghana.”