The Minister Designate for Zongo and Inner City Development, Hon Boniface Abubakar Saddique has stated that time was up for the rapid development of areas considered to be deprived in the country.
According to him, communities such as the Zongos and slum settlements deserved special attention so as to bring its development levels to that which pertains in urban areas.
Addressing parliament recently during his turn at the appointments committee sitting, Alhaji Saddique bemoaned the deprivation associated with Zongo Communities.
However, the Minister designate assured that when he is approved by parliament there would be massive transformation in the lives of people in the Zongo and inner cities.
DEFENSE:
Hon Saddique argued the importance of having a separate ministry to deal with issues affecting the Zongo community.
According to the Madina Member of Parliament (MP), the people in the Zongo deserved special attention to ensure their lives come to the level of others elsewhere in urban areas.
He intimated the desire of the president to see conditions of slums, inner cities and zongos improved to the standard befitting the habitation of humans.
Successive governments, he stated had not paid much attention to the people of the Zongo’s and noted massive incentives the John Agyekum Kufuor Government in 200-2008 made towards improving the lot of the people of the Zongos.
He pointed to the setting up of special Arabic schools and the allocation of special funds for Islamic Scholars and Clerics as examples of the NPP’s commitment during former President Kufuor’s tenure.
PLAN:
The former Deputy Works and Housing Minister intimated his resolve to coordinate efforts with the Ministry of Planning and Finance to ensure the seed capital of 50million ghana cedis were used to develop projects that would uplift the image of the Zongo and inner cities.
According to him, there was the need to change the architecture and building plans of the Zongo communities.
This, he stated would ensure buildings that would be constructed conform to current way of architecture as well as make up.
The Minister disclosed plans by his outfit to conduct a comprehensive review of all existing structures in the Zongos so as to enable them plan towards remolding its outlook.
