The Council of Gonja Chiefs in the Greater Accra Region headed by Chief Alhaji Omaru Yakubu Kanyiti has applauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the creation of the Ministry for Inner-City and Zongo Development, and the initiation of social policies like the Free Senior High School.

The Council said this when they paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Inner-City and Zongo Development, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid.

The group also highlighted some concerns in the Zongo communities, which include “high unemployment among the youth, high crime rate, low tertiary education and vocational training,” and assured the Minister of their support and collaboration to change the narrative.

Dr Abdul-Hamid, for his part, thanked the Council for the visit. He paid tribute to the founders of the Gonja Kingdom, especially on their role in the spread of Islam in Ghana.

He used the occasion to highlight the need for peace and harmony within Zongo communities and told the gathering that from 2019, the focus of the Ministry will be mainly on education and human development in the Zongos and inner-cities.

Dr Abdul-Hamid said with proper education and human capacity development, the majority of the challenges in the said communities will be reduced.