A1 Radio Engages Key Stakeholders on Govt Policy of One Million Dollars Per Constituency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s promise of assisting each constituency with one million dollars took the centre stage at the maiden Public Forum organised by A1 Radio, a private radio station based in the Upper East Regional capital, Bolgatanga. 

The forum discussed the purpose of the policy with focus on the institutional structures for the implementation of the policy and its effective utilisation both at the local and national level. 

The role of traditional authorities and policy makers in the effective utilisation of the process was one of the critical areas brought to fore for discussion. 

In attendance were dignitaries including revered chiefs and departmental heads among other functionaries. Professor David Millar, President of Miller Open University, Bismark Adongo, Development Practitioner, Michael Adongo Ayamga and Mr Kotie Amon Issaka represented as panel leaders for the forum.   

In a remark, Mr. Issaka advised  the government to take a second look at the policy of one million dollar per constituency, arguing that all the region do not have the same number of constituencies, and if equal amount is going to be given to each constituency, it will worsen the poverty situation in regions with less constituencies. 

He said for instance the Ashanti Region has 34 constituencies while the Upper East Region has 15 constituencies. 

This obviously means that the Ashanti Region will receive more than the Upper East Region, and when that happens, the regions with less constituencies will be at a disadvantage. 

He said the Sustainable Development Goal 10 enjoins governments to work towards bridging inequality and work to make markets inclusive.  

For his part, Prof. David Millar commented that, northerners should not be much concerned about the number of constituencies in the south but rather demand development as their own right and not the development gap between them. 

He asked northerners to stop complaining because it is not the quantum of money that facilitates development but how such monies are effectively utilised to the benefit of all. 

Prof. Millar encouraged northerners to rise up to the challenge and show to government what they are capable of doing. 

He noted that development should move from the district assembly level to the zonal level or the area council level, where the Chiefs and Traditional leaders are operating, because the chiefs are with the people and are much familiar with the problems of their subjects.  

Prof. Millar further urged the chiefs to take up initiatives and liaise with businessmen, and intellectuals to help draw factory plans to meet with the criteria set out for the one village, one dam policy. 

The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Salifu Aleemyarum, appealed to government to expedite action in creating job opportunities for the majority of the people in the area, particularly the youth. 

In an open forum, some of the participants urged government to establish a rice processing factory in addition to parkia, locally known as "Dawadawa" in strategic areas of the north to create jobs and support the school feeding program.

GBC