THE Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) has rolled out a number of programmes to facilitate the accelerated development of the area which is among the least developed regions in the country.
Among the thematic sectors that are attracting the council’s attention are, infrastructure development, agriculture, education and security.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Moses Mabengba, outlined the achievements chalked up so far and the vision of the government towards the forward move of the region at a well-attended “Meet the press” series held in Tamale.
The meeting was attended by a Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Agyenim Boateng, a Member of the Council of State, Kpan-Na Mohammed Bawa, District Chief Executives, chiefs and heads of departments, among others.
According to Mr Mabengba, as of December, last year, a total of 81.90 kilometres of roads had been constructed.
He said there were spot improvements and rehabilitation of some roads while a number of town roads were also worked on.
The minister also mentioned the construction of bridges, adding that routine maintenance on 15 roads covering a distance of 377.30 kilometres had been completed at while work on 450 kilometres of roads would commence soon.
He added that contract had been awarded on road surfacing in Chereponi, Tolon and Bole districts under the District Capital Road Improvement Project.
Mr Mabengba said some roads in the Tamale Metropolis were also to be given a facelift.
They include the 1.2-kilometre Nalungfon road which will be rehabilitated and that of the Picorna stretch.
“Again, 1.2 kilometres length of storm drains at Choggu Low Cost area is to be constructed as excavation works on this project has commenced,” he stated.
On the agricultural sector, the Regional Minister said available land for agricultural production in the region was 4.9 million hectares out of which only 800,000 hectares, representing 16 per cent were under production.
“Part of the remainder is used for livestock production while 10 per cent of the Volta Lake system that falls in the region also provides a platform for irrigation agriculture that can be undertaken in the region throughout the year,” he added.
Mr Mabengba mentioned the Youth in Agriculture block farm, fertiliser subsidy, Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programmes, including the rice sector support and the livestock development projects as some of the initiatives the government was undertaking to ensure food security in the region.
Under the block farm programme, the regional minister stated that it was being implemented in all the 20 districts in the region. Crops under cultivation include maize, rice, soya beans, sorghum and onions.
According to him, “a total of 15,722 farmers had been registered as beneficiaries of the 2010 programme. this means that through agriculture, the government has been able to provide employment for more than 15,000 people.”
Touching on the security situation in the region, Mr Mabengba observed that the area was experiencing some calm now, despite the fact that there were still unresolved matters on chieftaincy and land disputes.
“However, these have largely been contained, thanks to the increased appreciation and understanding of the role of peace in development by all stakeholders,” he stated.
Mr Mabengba, however, mentioned the Dagbon crisis, contenders for the Bimbilla skins, the Buipe skin affair and other minor chieftaincy issues pending at the Regional House of Chiefs, which, he said, were currently under review by the judicial committee of the House.
The Regional Minister said the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District had witnessed a number of violent conflicts leading to many internal displaced persons, adding that the area was now calm with security patrols.
On highway robbery, he said the incidence had now reduced following the constant patrol of the roads by a combined team of the military and the police. According to him, the robberies were often committed by Fulani herdsmen and their Ghanaian collaborators.
Mr Mabengba commended the chiefs and people of the area for their patience and co-operation over the years and assured them that the government was on track in achieving its "Better Ghana" agenda.
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