The North East Regional Minister, Mr.Yidana Zakaria has called on all actors in the Yunyoo/Nasuan District of the North East Region to play their respective roles without fear or favour during the upcoming 2024 general elections.

Mr.Yidana Zakaria made these remarks in a ceremony on Tuesday, 3rd December 2024 when He commissioned an ultra-modern Warehouse at Gbingbani in the Yunyoo/Nasuan District of the North East Region, under the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) Project

Mr.Yidana Zakaria emphasized the importance of peace in the District as the nation prepare for the upcoming elections and urged political parties, candidates, and supporters to conduct their activities with respect for the law and one another, avoiding actions that could incite violence or disturb the peace.

The Yunyoo/Nasuan District Chief Executive, Mr. Konlan Bittan On his part said “the inauguration of the Grain Storage Warehouse is one of the numerous projects being carried out in the district by the government and Projects such as expansion and rehabilitation of social infrastructure, access to Roads, Markets, Water, energy and youth Empowerment among others are on going in the District.

The inauguration of the new facility is to support economic, agricultural and industrial activities in the District

The ceremony was graced by Chiefs, Security service, SOCO representative, School children and Many More.

Source – gbcuraonline.com

The North East Regional minister Mr. Yidana Zakaria has said that the impact of the region’s share of the big SOCO project package has been great on the beneficiary communities across the length and breath of the young region.

Mr. Yidana who made these known in a recent media engagement at Nalerigu, the regional capital indicated that under the project substantial investments were made in key sectors of the local economy which directly impacted the well-being of the people in the year 2023.

According to the regional minister 9 schools were put up to ensure more children have access to quality education, 8 health facilities were also built enhancing healthcare services for the people, 9 rural market structures constructed providing opportunities for local traders and boosting economic growth in these communities, 2 rural roads were also constructed to facilitate better connectivity and access within the region.

In the area of water and sanitation he said 18 WASH facilities were put up for an improved hygiene and access to clean water in underserved communities in addition to the 4 youth development centres implemented offering valuable opportunities for young people to engage in meaningful activities and skills development.

These efforts he intimated have culminated in the 51 projects dotted around the North East Region.

In 2024 he said 89 subprojects were earmarked for implementation in the region as indicated below; 23 school infrastructure, 5 CHPS Compounds, 18 social infrastructure, 39 WASH facilities, a fire service bungalow as well as 3 equipment and other supplies.

Additionally, the minister said about 400 Common Interest Groups were expected to benefit from the Local Economic Development, LED Grant Model which would eventually benefit over 8,000 people of the region. Some of the notable activities of the youth engagement component he said would include youth parliaments and debates, intercultural dance displays, inter-cluster football competitions, youth sensitization and many interested youth program.

Mr.Yidana announced that award letters were being issued out and contractors were being taken to the various project sites for site possessions.

In a concluding remark, he said the SOCO project received unwavering support from the President and Vice President who doubled as the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, NPP. As a resulit of the success stories of the project so far the government was considering request for additional financing to expand in order to benefit the remaining 16 non-beneficiary districts in the six implementing regions of Ghana.

Source – gbcuraonline.com

The North East Regional Minister Mr. Yidana Zakaria bemoaned expressions by opposition political elements that the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion, SOCO Project was not a Non-Governmental Organisation but a Government of Ghana project in partnership with the World Bank calling on the media and the general public to disregard statements being made that SOCO project communities were selected based on political affiliations. Hon. Yidana made these known during a media engagement on the Phase 1 completed SOCO projects of the North East Region in Nalerigu the regional capital.

He indicated that the project was being implemented in three components such as Infrastructure, Local Economic Development and Youth led adding that it captured 48 out of 64 Districts of the North as beneficiaries involving 1,700 communities.

Describing it as a game changer for the five regions of the north, Hon. Yidana said the five year World Bank funded project was being implemented in phases by the Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.. He also stated that the project saw the execution of 530 infrastructural subprojects across the operational area of SOCO with an estimated investment of GHC 184,777,.742.07 funded from Ghana’s USD150 million package from the USD450 million initial released for the SOCO Project.

Mr. Yidana intimated that the project was designed to address the complex challenges faced by the northern regions of the Gulf of Guinea countries such as Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin adding these regions have long been grappling with vulnerabilities as food insecurity, climate change, conflict and violence which led to high levels of fragility. He said that the aforementioned challenges made some members of the youth and communities susceptible to extremist ideologies which further exacerbated regional instability saying it was in the light of these that the SOCO project sought to support the most affected areas in Ghana’s Upper East, Upper West, Northern, North East, Savannah and Oti Regions. The minister who gave the breakdown of the 530 projects as 33 roads and culverts, 59 classroom blocks with teacher accommodations, 73 rural markets, 66 health facilities as well as 210 water systems added that the tangible impact of the project has been the over 6,200 jobs involving 3,800 unskilled labour opportunities, 2,000 skilled labour positions and 426 community facilitator roles.

Mr. Yidana further indicated that through the engagement on infrastructure sites, 3, 748 individuals had earned GHC 5,379,914 during the first year of project implementation. He added that 24,652 women with productive assets such as tools, materials and equipment received support from the project for enhance greater economic independence.

The project according to him strengthened social cohesion, peace and unity as well as efforts to prevent violent extremism especially during sensitive political periods which led to the establishment of 8 new sports facilities serving over 8,000, a platform for youth engagement and community interaction. Project organised 20 sporting events and 15 cultural festival which brought together communities fostering unity and mutual understanding.

The minister therefore called on all stakeholders including traditional rulers, opinion leaders and community members to support moves towards ensuring the sustainance of peace so as to enhance the impact of these projects on the beneficiary communities. The absence of peace according to him meant the withdrawal of World Bank support thereby spelling doom for the project communities.

Responding to some questions from the media, Mr. Alhassan Osman, a CDD/CB specialist of SOCO explained that the criteria for selecting project communities included; poverty and inclusivity, exposer to climate change risks, security risk and proximity to border among other factors.

Source – gbcuraonline.com

The Walewale Constituency Youth Organiser of the ruling New Patriotic Party, NPP Mr. Zakaria Abuba bemoan the existence of a purported NPP youth group known as the “Walewale Youth Warriors of NPP” adding that as members of the constituency youth of the party, they had a lot do to enhance the unity and cohesion between the rank and file of the elephant family in the Walewale constituency of the North East Region.
In a press release to the media, the youth commander urged his team and well meaning stakeholders of the party to disregard and distance themselves from the purported news headline going rounds “ Stop Bawumia for Considering Napo as running mate” Walewale Youth Warriors Of NPP appeals to Nayiri”

“As Walewale Constituency Youth Organizer and commander of the Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party, we only have two registered and recognized Youth groups within the constituency.They are the BAWUMIA YOUTH CENTER and the BAWUMIA YOUTH FOR DEVELOPMENT and we have no knowledge of an existing group called “Walewale Youth Warriors of NPP” and any sort of information coming from that non-existent group should be treated with the highest of contempt” he stated in the release.

According to the him, the youth of Walewale had no choice as to who the flag-bearer and leader of the NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY chooses to augment his ticket going into the 2024 general elections adding that anyone considered by the flag-bearer and the party leadership would surely be their choice as well, after all the party had a lot of upstanding men and women who ciuld fill up that position pledging that they were more than ready to go into all the crannies of the constituency to campaign in order to possibly break the 8.

“As Youth we are only motivated by the party’s achievements and ready to campaign with extra energy that would retain the Walewale parliamentary seat for the NPP and eventually break the 8 come 7, December 2024” he said. He further stressed that the youth had no interest in whoever emerges as Dr. Bawumia’s favourite to partner him as his running mate for this year’s general elections.

Mr. Zakari therefore assured party faithfuls, stakeholders and the general public that the youth had resolved to preaching the many touted achievements of this government and would not do anything silly to jeopardize the gains made so far thereby enhancing the unity and peace the party was enjoying.

Source – gbcuraonline.com

The Former North East Regional Minister, Solomon Namliit Boar has been elected the Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Bunkpurugu constituency.

During the NPP Orphan constituencies elections held on Saturday December 2, 2023, Solomon Namliit Boar polled 264 votes whereas his rival Lawyer Sulley Sambian garnered 260

In the Nalerigu/Gambaga constituency Regional Youth organizer, Alhaji Mumuni Mohammed Nurudeen has been elected the Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Nalerigu/Gambaga constituency, he polled 330 votes whereas his six  rivals FUSEINI NUREINI ABDULAI -263, ADAM ABDULBASHIRU -2, ADAM JIMBICYBAN ISSAHAKU -63, NASIGRI MAHAMADU- 47, GRUMAH GIDEON MAHAMI – 188R, ASHIDA MAHAMAH 17.

In a congratulations Statement issued by the North East Regional communication director of the Party, Walibe Amos said, “Now the intra party contest is over in these constituencies and what’s left is for us to close our ranks and prepare to face our main opponent, the NDC. History shows that whenever we’re able to unite very well, we win in these constituencies. And knowing very well that the 2024 elections is a crucial one, this is the time we need unity more than ever”.

“We entreat the leadership of the party in the two constituencies to take immediate steps to unite the party and hit the ground running”.

Below is the full statement

2nd December, 2023.

For Immediate Release

NPP ELECTS PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES IN ORPHAN CONSTITUENCIES IN THE NORTH EAST REGION

The New Patriotic Party in the North East Region earlier today held parliamentary elections in the Bunkpurugu constituency and the Nalerigu-Gambaga constituency to elect its parliamentary candidates for the 2024 elections.

At the end of polls, the good delegates of the Bunkpurugu constituency elected Hon. Solomon Namliit Boar while the good delegates of the Nalerigu-Gambaga constituency elected Alhaji Mumuni Mohammed Nurudeen to lead the two constituencies respectively. The regional Chairman and leadership of the party in the region therefore wish to congratulate the two victors for fighting uphill battles to earn the trust of delegates leading to their election to become the party’s parliamentary candidates for their respective constituencies.

To the unsuccessful aspirants, we say thank you for accepting the outcome of the elections without any rancor and acrimony. You gave your best shots and fought good battles but unfortunately, you weren’t successful. As patriots, keep in mind that there are many other ways by which you can serve the party.

To the winners and their supporters, be measured in your jubilations as it’s good to be magnanimous in victory. This is the time to build bridges and so it’s expected of you to do everything humanly possible to foster unity in the party. Do take the necessary steps to bring all your unsuccessful contenders on board for us to be able to prosecute successful campaigns in the two constituencies. This is so important particularly because of the keenly nature of the contests with very narrow wins.

The leadership of the party also wishes to thank all aspirants for conducting clean and peaceful campaigns which culminated into the free, fair and transparent elections we witnessed in the two constituencies. We also want to thank the electoral commission for being professional in the discharge of your duties.

Again, we wish to express our utmost gratitude to the Ghana Police Service and all the security agencies who contributed immensely to making the process a great success.

Now the intra party contest is over in these constituencies and what’s left is for us to close our ranks and prepare to face our main opponent, the NDC. History shows that whenever we’re able to unite very well, we win in these constituencies. And knowing very well that the 2024 elections is a crucial one, this is the time we need unity more than ever.

We entreat the leadership of the party in the two constituencies to take immediate steps to unite the party and hit the ground running.

Congratulations once again to the victors. Remember that the battle remains the Lord’s.

….Signed….
Walibe Amos
(Reg. Coms. Dir. NER)

Source – gbcuraonline.com