A town hall meeting and exhibition, themed “Regional Revitalization: Government Commitment to Growth, Development, and Prosperity,” was held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at the GNAT Hall in Tamale.
Organized by the Ministry of Information in collaboration with the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, the event brought together chiefs, Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), civil society organizations (CSOs), political parties, and various local groups to discuss strategies for promoting economic growth and development in the Northern Region.
The Minister for Information, Hon. Fatimatu Abukari, opened the session by emphasizing the importance of inclusive governance and collaboration between government officials, traditional leaders, and community members to achieve sustainable regional prosperity. She underscored the government’s commitment to infrastructure development, business support, and job creation.
Northern Regional Minister Hon. Shani Alhassan Shaibu outlined key government achievements in education, healthcare, agriculture, and transportation since 2017. Notably, the region achieved a 98% transition rate under the Free Senior High School policy in the 2023/2024 academic year. Additionally, the ongoing Agenda 111 project is enhancing healthcare infrastructure across 10 districts.
The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Hardi Tuferu, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Hon. Dr. Bryan Acheampong, announced a GHC 66 million interest-free loan to support farmers, alongside targeted aid for poultry farmers starting October 10, 2024.
He reassured attendees about the safety of Ghanaโs food system. โWe are implementing measures to mitigate the devastating effects of these dry spells,โ he said. โWhen government interventions roll out, we expect food prices to decrease.โ
He stated that, “118,000 metric tons of fertilizer and 5,133 metric tons of seeds will be distributed to 800,000 smallholder farmers nationwide. Every farmer will receive two bags of NPK and one bag of Urea, commercial farmers would receive up to 50 bags of NPK and 25 bags of Urea each”.Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Alex Ampaabeng in his address stated that, “the country has bounced back from COVID-19 pandemic. The country’s gross domestic Product and Exchange rate had also shown significant improvement”.
A panel of guest speakers took the stage to share their insights and perspectives on regional revitalization. The panel included Minister for Information, Hon. Fatimatu Abubakar, Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Shani Alhassan Shaibu and Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Hardi Tuferu. Each speaker discussed their ministry’s role in promoting growth and development, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the region.
Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback during a Q&A session following the panel discussion. Residents voiced their concerns about issues such as job creation, affordable housing, and access to to education and healthcare services. The panelists listened attentively and offered valuable insights and resources to address these concerns.
Throughout the meeting, there was a sense of optimism and enthusiasm among attendees, who expressed a strong desire to work together to build a brighter future for the region. Several residents shared ideas for community projects and initiatives that could help stimulate economic growth and improve quality of life for all residents.
The event concluded with an exhibition featuring development projects from all 16 MMDAs in the region, leaving attendees optimistic about the future.
