Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has inaugurated the Board of the Zongo Development Fund (ZDF), and charging the members to ensure the spread of development to all Zongo communities in the country.
The 11-member governing body is chaired by Alhaji Seidu H Nasigri, a private legal practitioner. The other members are Arafat Sulemana (CEO), Ahmed Saed, Hajia Barkisu Seidu Bawie, Chief Dalhu S. Abdul Mumin, Sagnari Naa Amb. Yakubu Abdulai, Chief Manmoud Dandey, Rev Dr Cyril Gershon Kwao Fayose, Chief Alhaji Shakson Osumanu Issahaku and Ahmed Abdulai Abu.
Speaking during the swearing in ceremony, the Vice-President urged members to “work assiduously with all stakeholders to ensure that the ZDF continues to deliver on its mandate”.
Cherished ZDF
Dr Bawumia noted that the Zongo Development Fund is very dear to the “heart of the President and government and everyone”, adding “it was set-up to bridge development gap between Zongo communities and other parts of the country”.
He recounted that since the passing of the ZDF Bill and the signing of the Act by the President in 2018, the development of Zongos had, for the first time since independence, been included in the national budget.
“.. and the impact is so obvious. As we envisioned, the ZDF has been a vehicle for inclusive, sustainable development for Zongo communities delivering projects such as: renovation and construction of classroom blocks, clinics, drainage systems, water systems, security installations, bridges, roads, entrepreneurial support, educational scholarships, astroturfs, among others,” he mentioned.
Gov’t commitment
Dr Bawumia reiterated government’s commitment to delivering more for Zongo communities in its quest to ensure inclusive development in the country.
The Vice-President said as part of government’s broader vision to widen opportunities to education, the ZDF’s had prioritised investment in education.
“This has resulted in the construction of a number of modern educational facilities such as classroom blocks, ICT centres, and libraries in many Zongos. Also, about 40 brilliant but needy Zongo students are currently in Cuba training to become medical doctors, thanks to the vision of this government to ensure inclusive development for all,” he stated
That aside, Dr Bawumia further disclosed that the ZDF had given out hundreds of tertiary educational grants to young people from the Zongos to pursue tertiary education.
“Surely, ours is not the politics of rice and sugar. We promised the people of Zongo, and we are delivering through sustainable policy, with education as the catalyst. There is so much work to do to ensure that the ZDF spreads its development to more Zongos across the country,” he told the board members.