Prez Mahama Gets ‘Rare Thumbs Up’ From BONABOTO On 2012 Victory

BONABOTO Chairman

BONABOTO, an advocacy network famed for its passion and pursuit for the socio-economic development of Bolgatanga, Nangodi, Bongo and Tongo, has registered its rare voice in the growing string of congratulatory messages trailing President John Dramani Mahama since the Electoral Commission (EC) declared him winner of the December presidential polls. 

The organisation, over the years, strictly has tightened its lips in grey areas that could end it up in a studio of public opinions where its strong values and seamless credibility may be painted or tainted with political and religious biases. But thumbs involuntarily went up for President Mahama at the organisation’s 8th Homecoming and National Congress held in the Upper East Regional capital of Bolgatanga under the theme: “Ensuring Collaboration for the Development of the Upper East Region.”

Welcoming a crowd of members to the opening ceremony, the Bolgatanga Branch Chairman for the organisation, Mr. Didacus Afegra, after paying tributes to the departed members, said: “Another important thing to do is to congratulate His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, our re-elected sitting and newly elected Members of Parliament for BONABOTO area … for their sweet electoral victories.” 

Going beyond just a compliment, the Chairman also gave a firm assurance that the organisation would work closely with the President and those elected in the 2012 elections to accomplish public promises made as well what he described as “huge expectations” of the electorate. Mr. Afegra used the occasion to jog the memory of Government on President Mahama’s directive in 2010 (then as Vice President) that a committee be set up for selection and acquisition of a suitable site at either Winkogo or Sherigo for an ultramodern regional hospital project. 

“To date that committee, despite several reminders from us, has not been put in place. I don’t believe His Excellency the President’s directive was a deception. The chiefs and people of both places no longer trust us. Can’t something be done urgently on this matter?” bewailed the Chairman.

Mr. Afegra also emphasised the need for Government to give special consideration to the three regions of the north in its plans to put up ten new Colleges of Education in the country, since these three regions, put together, boast of only seven of such institutions— the same number some of the other regions individually have. Whilst asking Government to go beyond lip service on BONABOTO’s request to have Gurene among the country’s examinable languages at the basic level, the Chairman also pointed at the north as the next point for the establishment of a public university after the proposed one for the Eastern Region is completed.   

The National President of the organisation, Mr. Peter Lance Adogba Adua, poured out his grief over the poor road networks in Bolgatanga and the rest of the region’s district capitals. He observed that there was no single completely tarred road in Bolgatanga and also described the road linking Bolgatanga to Bawku as a “deathtrap” that needed to be redesigned. 

“It is an understatement if I say Bolgatanga, our regional capital, is the least developed in the country in terms of road networks. In fact, there is no single road which is completely tarred within the township. The only road we can boast of is the trunk road linking Bolgatanga to Paga. It is no better in any of the district capitals. The road between Bolga and Zuarungu needs to be expanded to reduce the avoidable deaths that occur on it every market day with pedestrians killed or maimed as they compete with vehicles on the narrow road,” he observed. 

He also advised Government to consider regional balance in making appointments to the Board of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) for a full commitment and total success of the intervention through a collective sense of belonging.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo, announced some of Government’s plans ahead in 2013 to reduce poverty in the region. According to him, an amount of seven million dollars has been released for feasibility studies to be done in January 2013 on the proposed Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam. The dam, when completed by 2019, will irrigate over 100, 000 hectares, generate electric power and create fishing job opportunities for the people of the region. A similar dam is also due for construction along the River Sisili (a tributary of the River Volta) in the Builsa South District. 

Mr. Woyongo also heralded an approaching revival of operations at the Northern Star Tomato Factory with farmers’ readiness to supply a crate of farmers to the factory at nine Ghana cedis after a long disagreement over the price of one crate had starved the factory of its basic raw materials. Additional equipment, he added, would be installed at the factory for the processing of locust seeds (dawada) and canning of pepper not only to keep the factory running all year round but also to create more jobs and market for the people. 

story by Edward Adeti