RESIDENTS of Tamale have commended President John Evans Atta Mills for his three-day working visit to the Northern Region and for living up to his campaign pledge of refurbishing and expanding facilities at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).
According to the chiefs and people of the area, the deplorable state of the hospital, which served as the only referral centre in the three northern regions, had been a source of worry to them over the years.
They, therefore, described the decision by the government to address the age-long problems of the health facility within the first one-and-a-half years since assuming office as very refreshing, since successive governments had paid lip-service to its rehabilitation since the facility was constructed in 1974.
The Regent of Dagbon, Kampakuya-Na Abdulai Andani, who graced the sod-cutting ceremony with his sub-chiefs and elders on Tuesday, compared the poor state of the hospital to a death trap and indicated that “we in this part of the country will ever be grateful for this landmark”.
The President, who arrived in Tamale last Monday to a tumultuous welcome, earlier inaugurated a GH¢7-million central administration block for the University for Development Studies (UDS) at its Tamale campus, where he expressed the government’s determination to ensure the provision of quality education in the country.
He also called for the judicious use of resources by beneficiaries of the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) “to ensure value for money”.
President Mills also interacted with metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives in the Northern Region behind closed doors. According to the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Mr Koku Anyidoho, the chief executives were charged to live above reproach and also embark on innovative local revenue mobilisation to generate additional funds to ensure the accelerated development of their respective areas.
The President, who earlier addressed the youth upon his arrival, assured them of the government’s commitment to expanding the economy to create more job opportunities to engage them, stressing that “we will never turn our backs on you”.
Professor Mills, who was visibly excited over the warm reception accorded him at all the places he visited, thanked the chiefs and people for their unflinching support and assured them that “the government will continue to deliver for keeping faith in us”.
He, however, entreated Ghanaians to exercise restraint, as efforts were being made by the government to attend to their needs “because the only reason why we are in government is to raise your living standards”.
The President was accompanied on his visit by some Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and NDC party functionaries.
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