Govt approves US$100m funding

Back Page, lead, (Daily Graphic), December 24, 2008

Story: Charles Benoni Okine

THE government has approved $100 million to revamp the agricultural sector in the three northern regions.
The money will be used for the acquisition of tractors and other agricultural equipment, as well as seedlings, for farmers in the three regions to enable them to cultivate crops in large quantities for export and local consumption.
The Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, announced this when he met the chiefs and people of Tumu in the Upper West Region.
His visit formed part of a campaign tour to whip up support for the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He said the government appreciated the concerns of the people of the northern regions and was prepared to assist them in any way possible to alleviate poverty.
Alhaji Mahama, who was met on arrival in the town by an enthusiastic crowd of party supporters, said, “We know your problems and we have, since 2001, been working hard to ensure that we bridge the gap between the north and the south by bringing development to the people of the three regions.”
The Vice-President said the achievements of President Kufuor in the northern regions were evident and that Nana Akufo-Addo would help accelerate the development process there, adding that Nana Akufo-Addo had promised to set up a $1 billion Northern Development Fund when voted into power and asked the people not to miss the opportunity.
He said apart from the fund, the government, when maintained in power, would also devote funds from the Consolidated Fund to support the development projects needed to transform the northern regions.
At Sandema, the Vice-President called on the paramount chief and party supporters who had gathered at a mini rally to hear the message of the ruling government.
He told the people that the school feeding programme would be extended nation-wide should Nana Akufo-Addo be voted into power.
Alhaji Mahama said the government had also sourced funds to build a mini dam at Pwalugu to provide electricity for most parts of the north.
He said the NPP had learnt its lessons and expressed the hope that those mistakes would not be committed in the run-off.
The Vice-President, who will return to Accra on Saturday, December 27, will visit the Nadowli East, Wa East, Sawla and Damongo constituencies and move to the Volta Region, where he will pay courtesy calls on chiefs in Krachi, Nkwanta, Hohoe and Sogakope.
December 24/2008