A recent investigation conducted by Apexnewsgh.com, an online platform focused on the development of the Upper East Region, has shed light on the impact of former Regional Ministers in the area. Apexnewsgh reports The findings have revealed that among the list of former ministers, Hon. Limuna Mohammed Muniru stands out for his substantial contributions to the region’s development. The appointment of a Regional Minister from the Upper East Region often led to issues of ethnic and tribal politics, hindering meaningful development. Former ministers such as Donald Adabre, Mohamed Salifu, Bonfica Gambila, Alhassan Samari, and Mark Woyongo, are remembered more for their lack of significant development initiatives during their tenures. Prof. Ephraim Avea Nsoh did not achieve any notable developmental project during his time as Upper East Regional Minister, even though information has it that he has a good plan for the region. He wasn’t given the time to execute his plans before he was taken to Upper West Region. During Hon. Limuna Mohammed Muniru’s term as Regional Minister from 2013 to 2014, he spearheaded several remarkable development projects. He played a key role in the planning of the Regional Airport and the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital Phase 1 and 2. Additionally, under his leadership, crucial infrastructure projects like the Bukere and Soe roads were completed, making a significant impact on the region. On the other hand, some former ministers like James Zuugah Tiigah and Rockson Bukari failed to leave a lasting development legacy during their tenures. Hon. Zuugah Tiigah’s term from 2014 to 2017 was marred by a lack of notable accomplishments. The people of Upper East easily remember his record-breaking Christmas trees which was sighted in various location along the principal street of the regional capital. Meanwhile, Hon. Rockson Bukari’s period in 2017 was marked by controversy and unfortunately no identifiable developmental project can be put to his credit. He rather performed better when he was given opportunity to serve as Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive. Meanwhile, Hon. Tangoba Abayage, who served as Regional Minister after Rockson Bukari, made significant strides in development, particularly in resuming the Bolgatanga-Bawku road project. She also initiated street lightening project in the regional capital and later extended it to some other districts. However, after the completion of the street lightening project, it receives an iconic commissioning by the President. Her efforts were well-received by the public, with many acknowledging her impact on the region’s progress. Hon. Stephen Yakubu, the most recent former Regional Minister, faced challenges during his term, especially in the areas of mining-related issues and the Bawku conflict. Despite promising initiatives such as the Regional Passport Office and the completion of the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, he failed to deliver on these commitments, leaving much to be desired in terms of development progress. Views we collated from residents of the region shows he did not bring anything on board in terms of development. All the mouthwatering promises he made to the people of Upper East regarding Regional Passport Office was not successful under his watch, the people of Upper East still risk their live travelling to Tamale for their renewal of passport each day. The contractor working on Bolga-Bawku road left the construction site under his watch as a regional minister. All his promises to construct a regional airport during his time in office was a fiasco. The comparison of former Upper East Regional Ministers highlights the varying degrees of contributions to the region’s development, with Hon. Limuna Mohammed Muniru standing out for his notable achievements during his short tenure. Source: Apexnewsgh.com Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062
Former Defense Minister Mark Woyongo dies @78
Former Minister of Defence and Member of Parliament for the Navrongo Central Constituency, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo, has passed away at the age of 78, leaving Navrongo Central and the people of Upper East Region in deep shock. Family sources confirmed his death in Accra, stating that he had been unwell for some time. Mr. Woyongo, who served as MP from 2012 to 2016, lost his seat to the New Patriotic Party’s Joseph Kofi Addo. He announced his retirement from politics in 2016, declaring that he would not contest any political position again. During his time in politics, Mr. Woyongo stood for election on the National Democratic Congress ticket, narrowly losing in 2008, but later serving as the Upper East Regional Minister and Minister for Defence. After the NDC lost power to the NPP in 2016, he turned to farming. His death has left a void in the community, and his contributions to the region and the nation will be remembered. Source: Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062
IMF conditionalities affected my delivery as Interior Minister-Mark Woyongo
Former Interior Minister Under the NDC Mahama Administration Mark Owen Woyongo has said that one of the things he regretted so much during his tenure as the Interior Minister was the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionalities. Mr.Woyongo who was speaking in an exclusive interview with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com said the Interior ministry was more handicapped than today. Because during his days as Interior Minister, the Ministry were not having any funding to facilitate a lot of the things they wanted to do which includes equipping the Police Service, Immigration Service, and Prison Service “…what I regret during my days as Interior Minister, is that we do not have the funding to do a lot of the things we wanted to do. I wanted to equip the Ghana Police Service, the Immigration Service, the Fire Service, and the Prison Service. But unfortunately, we were on IMF conditionalities. So, there was an embargo on a lot of the things we had planned to do. For example, equipping these institutions which I have mentioned, recruiting more officers. You know we don’t have enough Police officers in this country and recruiting them, means there must be more money to pay them.” He stressed According to Mr. Woyongo, during those days he easily had issues with the then Finance Minister Seth Terkper, because whenever he approached him for a solution especially on employment, Seth Terkper will simply say they cannot employ or if you like recruit because of the IMF conditionalities, a response that always destroy his mood, especially when he struggling hard to equip them to enable them to work effectively. ” I had a problem sometimes with the Finance Minister Seth Tekper, you will go there that you want to recruit and he will say no, we cannot recruit, under the IMF, we cannot recruit now. So, that was a very big problem. But with the little scare’s resources, we managed to do a few things. For example, the Immigration Service didn’t have guns and aminations and people were patrolling our borders and we couldn’t get them gun and amination, so I had to link up with the military and some of their weapons were given to the Immigrations and some were given to the Prison Service. I went to Turkey and met with manufacturers of some of these weapons and before I left, we have arranged for a donation weapon to the Ministry and that was before I left the Ministry of Interior. And I think that is key, equipping the security agencies is key. Because, if you don’t equip them how will they perform? So, that was my focus. To equip them and make them have adequate numbers to operate effectively.” He said Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications
JUST IN EXCLUSIVE: I Have No Doubt That, If We Are Vigilant, If We Police The Polling Station Well, If We Have Very Good Polling Agents, Victory Will Be Ours- Mark Woyongo
Former Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central and former Interior Minister of the Republic of Ghana Mark Woyongo is more confident that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will recapture the seat from the governing New Patriotic Party come December 7. The former Interior Minister in an exclusive interview with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com said, there are a lot of factors ahead pointing to the victory of NDC in the Navrongo Central. According to him, some of the projects which are ongoing under the NPP administration were commissioned by him in 2016 before they lost power. He sighted the Navrongo- Naaga road as one of the projects he commissioned and was handed over to a contractor in 2016. Even though Mr. Woyongo appreciates how that particular road was important to the people of the Southern sector, he emphasized that NPP only came and rewarded the contract to another contractor. However, he said because of his role and projects he brought to people in that enclave, he got a lot of votes from them. Talking about the ongoing Tono treatment plant, Mr. Woyongo told Apexnewsgh.com that in 2016, he made a lot of capital out of it, because then, the NDC administration had already acquired funding for the Tono project which is currently ongoing. However, he said it is sad the NPP is claiming the credit for an already made project. However, Mr. Woyongo said above all, he is confident that the people of Navrongo have seen the difference between NDC and NPP for the last 4 years because they have not seen virtually any developmental project in Navrongo compared to his days as their Member of Parliament. “…without any hesitation, I would say the seat is their the taken, NDC will win that seat and I have my reasons. The people of Navrongo have seen the difference between the NDC and NPP. For the last 4 years, we have seen virtually no development project in Navrongo. NPP is touting the award of the contract from Navrongo to Naaga as one of their projects. This is a project I commissioned in 2016 and it was given to a contractor and shortly after that we lost the election, they stopped the contract and rewarded it after 2 years. I made a lot of noise about it during my 2016 campaign and the 2016 campaign was very interesting because that road was so important to people of the Southern sector that’s from Navrongo, Kologo to Naaga and beyond.” “…so, I got a lot of votes from that area. Now these people have come and they have given it out on contract and / rewarded the contract and they are touting it.” ‘’…the Tono water system, the treatment plant that is ongoing at the moment, 2016 I made a lot of capital out of it because we had acquired the funding for that project. The funding was acquired, it was at the ministry of finance and on my runs during the 2016 campaign, I made so much noise about that and I said, we are going to have a treatment plant in Navrongo at Tono, it will bring water to Navrongo, it will bring water to Bolga, it takes water to Paga and partly Chuchuluga, we made all the noise about it. They have come and they are implementing it, fine…it is good. But the people know that it was initiated during my tenure.” He stressed “…a lot of these projects were done in Navrongo, you can talk about the asphalting of the road, the Doba water treatment plant, a water system which is now made it possible for people in Navrongo to have water flowing through their tap 24/7 there are a lot of projects and the people are making the comparison.” “Above all, the fall out of the NPP primaries will play to the advantage of the NDC. I am saying this because yesterday night, I was at two separate rallies in Navrongo, and to be honest with you, I was excited when at both rallies members of the NPP from the Kofi Adda’s camp came out to speak boldly, chastising their party and they vowed that they will never vote for the NPP anymore even if Kofi Adda as them to vote for NPP, they will never vote for NPP and it cut across the whole constituency, it is not just at this two places we had the rally since I came I have been going round and that is what is happening in Navrongo itself. So, I have no doubt that, if we are vigilant, if we police the polling station well, if we have very good polling agents, victory is ours.” He said Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/ Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email: apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications.









