A wave of transformative development is sweeping through the Upper East Region, as the government’s new approach to infrastructure and social services begins to take hold at the district level.
Jonathan Abdallah Salifu, Upper East Regional Communication Officer for the NDC, recently shared an inside look at how hospitals, CHIPS compounds, schools, and market projects are being rolled out like never before.
According to the Regional Communication Officer, the rules have changed for the better. District assemblies are now tasked with building two schools and two CHIPS compounds every year using the District Assembly Common Fund, and, crucially, they must now provide furniture for every new classroom. “We don’t want a situation where school blocks are put up and the issue of furniture becomes a problem,” he explained. Now, when a school or CHIPS compound is built, it’s also furnished, which explains the higher price tags on recent contracts.
Efforts have also intensified to tackle water shortages, with additional boreholes and water systems being installed under the assemblies’ watch. The regional minister himself has crisscrossed all districts, cutting sod for landmark projects like the much-anticipated 24-hour markets. “The region has enjoyed over 115 projects, which is unprecedented,” Jonathan said. “It has never happened before.”
Education, too, is getting a major boost. Almost every senior high school is receiving infrastructure upgrades. Schools like Navrongo Senior High (NAVASCO), which has long needed a proper fence wall, are finally seeing that dream materialize, with a brand-new 18-unit classroom block thrown in. Other schools, from Sandema to Bawku, are also enjoying facelifts, new blocks, and better facilities, thanks to support from GETFund and local government. Even entirely new schools are being built, complete with dormitories, teachers’ accommodation, dining and assembly halls, and modern WASH facilities.
The new 24-hour markets are another feather in the region’s cap. Every district has received land for these markets, and contractors are already hard at work. Funding is transparent and reliable: 25% of each district’s common fund is set aside for these projects, a stark contrast to previous initiatives whose funding sources were often unclear by the NPP administration.
Meanwhile, the University for Development Studies (UDS) is making strides toward a fully operational medical school. Key auxiliary departments are already running, and recruitment is on for more lecturers. For now, the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital will serve as a teaching facility, with future upgrades planned to meet the medical school’s requirements.
Mr.Jonathan took pride in these achievements, noting that all this has happened within just a year and a half of the NDC’s administration. “If you ask any of our political opponents what they achieved in one and a half years, they cannot mention,” he said. He commended the president, the MPs, and all stakeholders pushing tirelessly for development, often working behind the scenes and facing criticism for the sake of their constituents.
Mr. Jonathan also called for constructive criticism of MPs. “They should be criticized positively,” he urged, lamenting that some critics attack MPs simply for belonging to the opposite party. In contrast, he sees the region’s MPs as responsive and hardworking, always striving to bring more progress home.
He believes, the Upper East Region is experiencing an era of record-breaking development: stronger schools, better healthcare, new markets, and a collaborative spirit between government and people. The future, it seems, is brighter than ever.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com