Minister For Zongo Community Development Visits Obuasi

The Minister for Zongo community Development Alhaji Sadiq Abubakar Boniface on Thursday 15th June 2017 has visited the Obuasi Municipality. The Municipal Chief Executive of Obuasi, Hon. Elijah Adansi-Bonnah hosted the Minister at the Zongo Community Center, with the presence of the Zongo Community, the chiefs and other opinion leaders, market women, the two NPP party chairmen in the constituency, the Assembly Member for the area Hon. Wazu, party faithfuls and the press.

The purpose of the visit was to meet with the Zongo Community to call on the Zongo opinion leaders and the entire Zongo Community on the existence of the Zongo trust fund, how and what it should be used for.

In the Minister’s speech, he mentioned a few of the main purpose of the creation of the Ministry and the trust fund, he touched on social development, cultural promotion, security and crime control, poverty elevation amongst others.

Touching on each of these, he emphasized on the Ministry seeking to empower the people of the various Zongo Communities across the country. On social development, he stated they intend to build and expand schools, houses and putting more resources in health.

Again, on cultural promotion, he mentioned the rich culture of the various tribes in our Zongo, emphasizing that, if much effort is put on their rich cultural values and customs we have in the Zongos, foreigners who come on vacation will come to know, take pictures and show to the world how rich our culture is. He said at Zongo gatherings, every traditional wear the chiefs and others wear has their own meaning and speaks volume of their culture. Again, when foreigners come to a particular Zongo to witness any form of celebration, definitely their hospitality and other expenses they incur stays, therefore increasing the financial situation through buying and selling.

He said the era where Zongo young men are used for negative acts, especially before, during and after elections are over .He mentioned this when he touched on Security and Crime control. The minister advised the youth, especially the males to desist from been used by politicians in order to help promote the ministry and also help them use the community fund efficiently.

“Crime and poverty moves in parallel lines,” so any Zongo community that is associated with criminal activities is always seen to be very poor and deprived. Poverty alleviation and empowerment through employment especially the youth is part of the goal.

Hon. Abubakar Boniface said, development has been discriminative in the Zongo communities for quite a long time, but was quick to add, the act was not deliberate, saying the NPP Government led by the President, Nana Akuffo Addo will ensure the Zongo Community is never left out in any future development. “Politics is about making the people happy and not about Antagonism” he advised.

Hon. Elijah Adansi-Bonnah in a short speech was grateful to the president for the creation of the ministry and the Zongo development fund, saying the youth of the various Zongo Communities should make use of the opportunity given to them. Again, he promised he will give all the necessary support the ministry and the community may need to make the dream of the president and the people in the Zongos come to pass.

The Chief of the Obuasi Zongo, Alhaji Gibrim Ibrahim thanked the President of the Republic, the Minister, the Municipal Chief Executive and his own people for their support and cooperation.