Government has allocated GHS219.5 million as seed money for the Zongo Development Fund, the Minister of Inner City and Zongo Development, Boniface Abubakar Saddiq, has said.

According to him, his ministry will work with all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure all projects focus on intended beneficiaries and are delivered in a coordinated manner.

He disclosed that the Zongo Development Fund was part of the seven key priority and flagship projects outlined in the 2017 budget. He noted that public consultation would continue across the country in the coming weeks and “the inputs we collate will help to refine the draft bill before its presentation to cabinet and then parliament for their consideration and approval”.

Mr Saddiq revealed this during a stakeholder consultation forum held in Tamale on Monday, June 12, 2017 at the Modern City Hotel.

According to him, some of the priority projects in the 2017 Action Plan include access road improvement, alley paving, tertiary drainage construction, solid and liquid waste management, neighbourhood greening, educational and scholarship support, and primary health care delivery among others. He noted other focal areas for the first year are the infrastructure for local economic development such as markets and technology hub.

“I want to emphasise that the Zongo Development Fund is not meant for parochial interests such as paying individuals’ hospital bills, footing bills for naming and marriage ceremonies, and offering tips. In order to succeed, the ministry will require the support and partnership of all, including traditional authorities, private individuals, corporate entities, and international development agencies and missions,” he stated.

Mr Boniface, however, encouraged Ghanaians to come on board to support and not be spectators. 


Source: ClassFMonline.com