The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu, says the lack of Consulate in the five Regions of the North is a disservice to residents as they travel to Accra to access the services of a Consular.
The Minister, therefore, appealed the British High Commission in Accra to consider opening a Consulate in the Northern part of the country to save residents the stress.
“I strongly believe that when you take this first step, since you are the pacesetters, other High Commissions and Embassies will follow suit,” he said.
Hon. Yakubu made the appeal when he hosted the Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr. Keith McMahon to a dinner as part of Ghana’s 66th Independence Day Celebration in Bolgatanga.
He emphasised the need for consular services in the north, and recalled that some years ago, several residents moved from northern Ghana to Accra on daily basis for such services.
The Minister used the occasion to brief the Deputy Commissioner on the conflict situations in the region, and acknowledged the efforts of the British Government in the development of Ghana.
He said when the insurgency of the Jihadists’ broke out in Burkina Faso, about 6,000 displaced Burkinabes flooded the eastern corridor of the region, and with the support of UNICEF, the Refugees Board and other institutions, some relief items were sent to make them settle comfortably.
He commended the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) for the hard work which resulted in the arrest of some miscreants in the region believed to be syndicates of Jihadists’ group.
The Minister, who is the Chairman of REGSEC, noted that the “See Something, Say Something” mantra encouraged residents to volunteer information to the security agencies.
