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The president will be touring the region from 4th – 5th October 2017 to among other things inspect the progress of work on the Bolgatanga-Pulmakom Road and the Tamde Irrigation projects in the Garu-Tempane District.
These two life-changing and life-transforming projects are very dear to the hearts of the chiefs and people of the Kusaug Area.
You may recall that prior to the historic sod cutting ceremonies which took place on Monday 11th July 2016, a pro NDC youth group in the Kusaug area added it’s voice to calls made by the overlord of the Kusaug Kingdom Naaba Asigri Abugrago Azoka II to H.E John Dramani Mahama to remedy the situation.
The NPP government’s decision to supervise the completion of these visionary projects initiated by the erstwhile NDC government of H.E John Dramani Mahama regardless of the fact that while campaigning, the NPP led by then candidate Akuffo Addo lampooned these projects, is worth commending.
It is in the spirit of continuous governance that I cease this moment to interrogate the Nana Addo-led administration’s decision to review these projects.
The economic importance of this road cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, one wonders why this government is hell bent on frustrating efforts aimed at ensuring that the good people of the region get a long-lasting high quality road. There are glaring questions begging for urgent answers.
To begin with, why does the government think that this road shouldn’t be asphalted even though it continuous to rake in the revenue much needed to sponsor other developmental needs of the area? The assurances the president gave the Zugdaan regarding the completion of these monumental projects appears to have fallen flat. Is it the case that the president promises one thing and does the other?
As an indigent, and just like any other person, I struggle to understand why the road has been redesigned to remove the street lights and other components along the stretch. Is it that we do not deserve such a facility? In other words, would the government have considered this unfortunate decision if the project was cited elsewhere? Certainly not! But why do this to the chiefs and people of Bawku and its environs?
Another open secret regarding the execution of this project under the NPP which beats my imagination is the fact that Querioz Galvao, the main contractor on site has laid off some workers and subjected those left to massive pay cuts upon the coming in of this government. Why?
In addition, it is imperative to state that work on the Tamde Irrigation project commenced in July 2016 after H.E John Dramani Mahama then president of the Republic, cut sod. Just like the Bolgatanga-Bawku-Pulmakom Road, the contractor has since been on site working to get the project completed within schedule. But is it clear for everyone to see that this government has slowed the pace of work under the guise of carrying out a value for money audit on the contract.
After promising the good people of Northern Ghana in every village a dam, the good people of Kusaug and indeed the Upper East Region, I dare say, are yet to see the slightest indication that the government will make good this promise.
So the general expectation therefore is that the president will use this visit to at least cut sod for one dam to be constructed.
It is on the back of this promise that some of us struggle to understand why work on the Tamde Irrigation Dam Project has slowed in the last nine months, yet the president is happy to visit the site just to make more promises.
Over one thousand people in more than 40 communities whose farm lands and settlements have been affected by the construction of this mega irrigation dam are yet to receive any form of compensation from government.
When news of this presidential visit reached them, they got so angry and vowed to protest and mar the cosmetic working visit. Government functionaries in the area have over the past few days been seen frantically trying to coax them into giving the president a Hollywood reception. GhanaPoliticsonline.com
When the president announced that he was in a hurry, many people were misled into thinking that he was in a hurry to hasten the development of the country but alas!, what do we see? At least from his visit to the three northern regions which are arguably the poorest in the country, it’s clear that on the contrary, the president is in a hurry to dissipate the meagre resources of the various MMDAs and has consequently tasked them to cough up a whooping Five thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢ 5,000.00) each to sponsor his visit ostensibly to cushion the monstrous presidential convoy associated with this government.
Just like many Ghanaians nationwide and in the diaspora, the people of Kusaug especially the youth are feeling the pinch of the hard economic environment precipitated by the actions and inactions of this gover
GhanaPoliticsonline.com
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