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General News of Wednesday, 24 January 2007

Source: THE SUN

We have negleted the north -Prof Boateng

PROF. KWABENA Frimpong Boateng, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and NPP Presidential aspirant says successive governments have failed the people of Northern Ghana. "I am saddened about the deplorable state of the northern part of the country and even though successive governments have taken foreign loans and grants in the name of people," he told THE SUN’s contact man.

Speaking briefly to THE SUN last week, Prof. Boateng said if he is voted to lead his party and eventually become the president of Ghana he would make Northern Ghana an economic hub for the country.

He said he would ensured that migration of girls from north to southern part of the country to indulge in Kayayea is to stop because he would create opportunities for the girls.

As part of his plans to open up the Northern part of the country, Prof. Boateng said when he becomes president of Ghana he will set up a presidential office annex in the Northern region and work there at least every quarter of the year to make himself available to the people.

"In my presidency people would not necessarily have to travel all the way from North to Accra if they want to see president," I would make myself available for the people there," he said.

He noted that despite the huge economic potentials in the northern part of the country the place has been neglected.

"We can do green housing and open the place for tourism and pay serious attention to agriculture.

According to the NPP presidential aspirant the northern sector alone can feed the rest of West Africa only when serious attention is given to agriculture. He said when he is voted into power he will promote bio-fuel through the production of Sweet Potatoes to cut down the expenditure on the importation of fuel.

He attributed part of the problems confronting Northern Ghana to some of the elected people from the region.

Prof. Boateng was also not happy about the state of development in the Sefwi area of the Western Region despite its contribution towards national development and said we need to do more than what we have done as a nation for equal development in the country.

"No body can develop this country for us. The destiny of Ghana is in our own hands and we need to put our house in order to achieve our aim," he said.

"I was highly disappointed the kind of development I saw at Northern and some part of Western regions and this has given me the urge to intensify my campaign to become president so that my vision for the people would be met," he said. Ghanaians should believe themselves and keep in mind that we have a long way to go. We must be disciplined and truthful to ourselves. He said there was the need for the country to change the direction of its education; to the challenges of the nation.