Northern MPs challenged to conduct forensic audit into 10 million pounds

Northern Members of Parliament (MPs) have been challenged to ensure that a forensic audit was conducted to ascertain whether the 10 million pounds that was given by the Colonial government to cater for education in the area is fully exhausted.

Mr. Robert Ajene, the retired educationist, who threw the challenge during the third annual congress of the National BONABOTO Students Union held in Bolgatanga on Monday, said it was regrettable that the Northern MPs had not tabled any motion before Parliament challenging the withdrawal of the northern scholarship.

The BONABOTO Students comprises of students from Bolgatanga, Nangodi, Bongo and Tongo.

Mr. Ajene said everything of the scholarship had been scrapped off except the boarding fee, which he noted was affecting education in the three northern Regions.

He said the idea that the northern education development scholarship was free was never true and stressed that it was the birth right of the north to enjoy it.

He explained that it was the birth right of the people from the north to enjoy the scholarship because during the colonial era northerners were used to provide labour, by the colonial Masters to develop the southern parts of the country, leaving the north undeveloped.

“Education started in the Southern parts in the 18 century whilst that of the northern parts started in the 20th century.

Based on this, a lot of schools were built in the southern parts leading to most of the people in the area being educated more than those in the north.”

He explained that it was to compensate northerners and to help bridge the developmental gap between the north and south that the Colonial Masters gave the 10 million pounds to help cater for the education needs, which was the key to development.

The outgoing President of the Union, Mr. Atubga David Atia, said the Union apart from helping the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly to mobilize revenue, also organised holiday classes for students in the Region. **