The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) has organized its maiden Development Partners Forum in Bolgatanga to discuss the development agenda of the Region.
The forum afforded the about 38 development partners the opportunity to take stock of current developments and strategize to meet the desired targets of the region.
Addressing the forum, the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu said even though Northern Ghana had a number of NGOs, it appeared little was achieved in poverty reduction among the people.
He mentioned several interventions by NGOs in the Region, including Secondary Cities, Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy one and two, the Ghana Productive Safety Net Project, DPAT among others, yet the development gap was wide.
Citing the development needs of the Region, the Minister said there were still schools in the Region without classroom blocks, furniture, computers and internet facilities.
He, therefore, called for stronger partnership with the development partners to fill the development gaps which he described as very critical for the desired results.
Hon. Yakubu said the forum was intended to afford them the opportunity to share experiences, network among themselves and above all share visions together to achieve a key objective.
“Let’s create an enabling environment to reverse the trend of North-South migration with the abundance of natural resources such as arable land, water resource, mineral resources including huge gold deposits tourism sites among others,” he said.
Hon. Yakubu said when he assumed office as Minister, he consistently called for comprehensive development of the region anytime he had the opportunity, and would not stop until the desired results were achieved.
He appealed to national policy makers to fashion out development policies that would propel the development needs of the people of northern Ghana.
After a deep analysis of the various presentations from the participating development partners, they pledged their commitment and readiness to contribute resources to push for development in the Region.
