The Ministry of Zongo Development and Inner-Cities on Wednesday, held a policy sensitisation meeting with elders of the Zongo communities and inner cities with the aim of improving their social and economic environment.
The meeting which was held at the Osu Castle Gardens in Accra, brought together Zongo chiefs, regional imams, assembly members, and regional and district Nasara coordinators from the southern sector of the country.
It was also to brief them on the achievements of the ministry since it was established, as well as share government’s policy direction on Zongo development with them.
Speaking at the ceremony, the sector minister, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said 52 toilets had been provided some houses in the Greater Accra Region and from next week begin the next phase of 200 toilets to other parts of the region.
This, he said was to help curb open defecation and also provide decent toilets for households within the inner cities of the region.
On health, he mentioned that, the ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran Clinic to provide free health screening and medical care for residents within the Zongo communities across the country.
He said Iran Clinic had requested for a bus that would help them carry their medical equipments as well as preserve them in order to provide health care to residents living in Zongo communities across the country.
Dr Abdul-Hamid mentioned that Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) had decided to provide modern Information Communication Technology (ICT) laboratories for 37 zongo communities in some selected regions across the region.
“This will help students and teachers in these areas to be abreast with technology,” he added.
He disclosed that the ministry would recruit 2,000 additional Arabic teachers to boost teaching and learning of the language among students by January next year.
According to the sector minister, there were already 3,000 Arabic teachers in the country adding that arrears owed these teachers would be settled soon.
He therefore called on the members of the Zongo communities and inner – cities to be patient with the government saying that, “The resources are limited but we are doing our best.”
He stated that the ministry would not be able to settle all the challenges confronting all the 1,080 zongo communities within four years but said “we have been able to do much within these few years”.
BY JEMIMA ESINAM KUATSINU
