President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asserted that his government remained committed to addressing poverty to promote inclusive development.
That, he said was evident in government policies such as the free Senior High School (SHS) policy and the Zongo Development Fund (ZoDF) policy, which was aimed at transforming the social and economic conditions of the various communities in the country.
The President made the assertion when he joined the people of the Nima on Sunday, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the coronation of the chief of Nima, Mohammed Saini Farl, also known as Nii Futa.
The event was characterised by cultural performances including drumming and dancing and was graced by the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ayawaso East, the Member of Parliament of Ayawaso East Constituency, and Zongo Chiefs.
“The issues that you have addressed, the question of poverty and exclusion are matters of great concern to me and my government will mirror the policies that we have brought. The free SHS, ZoDF, the initiatives in industries and agriculture are all intended to try and bring us together as one,” the President said.
He urged the members of the Zongo community to preserve the peace that existed between Christians and Muslims, saying “you must not listen to anybody who comes to talk the language of division or exclusion in our country.”
The President seized the opportunity to reject accusations by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin that he had become a lame-duck President after the election of Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Presidential Candidate for the 2024 elections.
“Speaker Bagbin says I am a lame duck. Well, that is his language. I am still the President of the Republic and I will continue to do so until January 7, 2025,” Akufo-Addo said.
In his address, Nii Futa bemoaned the under-representation of members of the Zongo community in governance despite constituting a significant part of Ghanaian society, both in numbers and quality of human resources.
He also lamented the failure of Zongo communities to build structures that could offer leadership capable of negotiating with government and other institutions to ensure adequate participation of its members in national development.
Such collaborative effort and strong leadership, Nii Futa noted, would enable Zongo communities to realise their full potential and contribute to national development.
He commended the President for the various policies it had developed in his quest to address the social and economic challenges of the country.
The Chief also called on the President to support his non-governmental organisation, he established in 2018 to help address poverty through social capital investment.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
