The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says government’s commitment towards bridging the yawning gap between Northern and Southern Ghana is absolute.
Dr. Bawumia said this is why government has implemented several pro-poor policies that offer opportunities to the citizenry to develop their communities.
The Vice President stated that the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), for instance has continuously increased the appetite of young people and women for farming.
In the Nandom District, more than 12 thousand farmers have cultivated some 18 thousand hectares of land since 2017 increasing yields by up to 30 percent in 2018.
Dr. Bawumia said these at the 31st Kakube Festival of the chiefs and people of Nandom in the Upper West Region.
The Kakube Festival which was characterized by drumming and dancing is celebrated by the people of Nandom to signify the close of the farming season.
The festival is also to provide a platform for friends and family to meet, celebrate the successes chalked up in the year and strategize for the coming years.
Dr. Bawumia said government recognizes the integral role agriculture has played over the years in Ghana’s economy.
“I’m also very pleased to announce that His Excellency the President, Nana Akufo-Addo will on November 29, cut the sod for the construction of the almighty Pwalugu Dam to start in earnest. If you have studied the potential of this dam, you will know that it is going to be a game changer in agriculture in the Northern Regions,” The Vice President announced.
Dr. Bawumia added that the Pwalugu Dam when completed will bring “25 thousand hectare of land under irrigation. So far the whole of Ghana, the amount of land we have under irrigation is 12,980 hectares”.
He said the multipurpose dam will also help address the annual floods that come with the spillage of water from the Bagre Dam.
Speaking on behalf of the Nandom Traditional Council, the Chief of Nandom Ko, Naa Domepeeh Gyereh paid a glowing tribute to government for implementing policies like the PFJ, Free SHS and the One Village One Dam.
“His Excellency, we have noted with appreciation the implementation of governments flagship programmes. We are privileged to have benefitted from a number of your flagship programmes and will continue to support you to succeed,” he stressed.
Naa Gyereh added that “the Free SHS is a big relief to parents who can channel the monies that would have been used for their children’s education into economic ventures and activities to help reduce and alleviate poverty in the long run.”
Naa Gyereh said to address the falling standards of education at the basic level, stakeholders must unite in fighting against culture that militate against educational development.
He said from 2014 to 2019, students had performed abysmally at the BECE. The District from 2014 has fallen below 40 percent pass rate at the exam.
The Chief said the theme for this year’s Kakube Festival, “Role of Culture in Addressing Students Poor Performance at the Basic Level in the Nandom District” is apt as it allows for the concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address the problem of poor performance.
The Chief of Nandom Ko commended the District Assembly for handing over site to begin the construction of a District Library. He appealed to public-spirited individuals and organisations to donate reading books and materials to get the library running.
One environmental health and sanitation, the chief commended organization like SNV for their support to help the Nandom achieve a district-wide Open Defecation Free status.
He said the Traditional Council will continue to lend its support to implementing partners to ensure the district does not relapse.
The Chief of Nandom Ko, Naa Domepeeh Gyereh thanked the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the MP for Nandom, Ambrose Dery for their initial support towards the Nandom Educational Fund.
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Shi Ting Wang, the MP for Lawra Anthony Karbo, the MP for Sissala East Ridwan Abass among others graced the occasion.
Story filed by Mark Smith
