Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John Mburudiba, has called on residents of the Kumbungu District to actively participate in local governance and support government development programmes, saying citizen involvement is key to accelerating socio-economic development.
Speaking at the Government’s Accounting to the People Series Town Hall Meeting held on Tuesday at the Assemblies of God Bible Training School in Kumbungu, Mr. Mburudiba said the initiative forms part of President John Dramani Mahama’s Resetting Ghana Agenda to strengthen transparency, accountability and citizen engagement.
Before the meeting, the Minister joined the Kumbungu District Chief Executive (DCE), Hon. Alhaji Imoro Yakubu Kakpagu, the Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Hon. Prof. Hamza Adam, and traditional authorities to commission completed projects and inspect ongoing infrastructure works across the district.
“Accountable leadership requires us to engage directly with the people, explain government programmes and receive feedback that will help improve service delivery,” Mr. Mburudiba said.
He urged residents to maintain peace and support government interventions, noting that sustainable development depends on collective responsibility. He also commended the District Assembly for implementing projects in education, healthcare, agriculture, roads, water, sanitation and youth development.
Presenting his administration’s performance, Mr. Kakpagu said the Assembly has adopted an open-door policy to promote transparency and ensure equitable distribution of development resources.
“Our doors remain open to every resident. We are committed to ensuring that available resources are distributed fairly across the district without discrimination,” he said.
The DCE said the Assembly has strengthened collaboration with decentralised departments and agencies while completing administrative infrastructure, including a three-unit office block for some departments.
Education dominated the DCE’s presentation, with Mr. Kakpagu announcing the completion of classroom blocks at Gbullung, Kunkulun, Zangbalun, Wuba, Voggu, Kumbun-Kukuo/Yipelnayili and Digu. He said rehabilitation works have also been completed at schools in Mbanayili, Tonjing, Logshegu and Jegbo.
He added that 1,200 dual desks and 320 tables and chairs for teachers have been supplied to schools, while GETFund-funded projects, including classroom blocks, teachers’ quarters and a dormitory, dining hall and assembly hall for Kumbungu Senior High School, are at various stages of completion.
Mr. Mburudiba described education as the foundation of national development and assured residents that government would continue investing in educational infrastructure and human capital development.
In the health sector, Mr. Kakpagu announced the completion of two CHPS compounds and a maternity block at Bogupalgu, Dulizugu and Kumbungu under the District Assemblies Common Fund. He said discussions are underway with the Moroccan Embassy for the construction of another CHPS compound at Singa, while rehabilitation works have been completed at the Voggu CHPS compound.
He added that the Assembly is pursuing support to upgrade the Kumbungu District Hospital and plans to equip five additional CHPS compounds with medical equipment.
On agriculture, the DCE announced that Kumbungu has been selected to host one of Ghana’s first Agricultural Mechanisation Centres, an intervention expected to improve mechanised farming and increase agricultural productivity.
He also disclosed that construction has resumed on the long-delayed 14-kilometre Kumbungu township roads, while proposals for additional road projects have been submitted to the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
Mr. Kakpagu said electricity coverage in the district has reached about 90 per cent. He added that ten mechanised boreholes are under construction, six of which have already been completed, alongside ongoing pipe-borne water extension projects to improve access to potable water.
Touching on government’s flagship programmes, the DCE announced that construction of the 24-Hour Economy Market has officially commenced in Kumbungu.
“The project is expected to create jobs, stimulate commercial activities and strengthen the local economy,” he said.
He further disclosed that five underserved communities have been selected by the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) to receive improved telecommunications services, while about 50 laptops have been supplied under the One Million Coders Programme to support digital skills training for young people.
On social protection and youth employment, Mr. Kakpagu said 371 young people have secured employment under various Youth Employment Agency modules, while about 60 others are currently enrolled on the National Apprenticeship Programme.
He said GH¢326,537 has been disbursed from the District Assemblies Common Fund to support Persons with Disabilities through education, healthcare and livelihood interventions. He added that more than GH¢2.84 million has been paid to beneficiaries under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme, while the Ghana School Feeding Programme has expanded from 37 to 67 schools, creating jobs for more than 200 women.
The DCE also announced the establishment of an Environmental Protection Agency office in Kumbungu through collaboration between the Assembly and the area’s Member of Parliament.
Mr. Mburudiba described the establishment of the office as a significant step towards strengthening environmental protection and climate resilience in the district.
He urged residents to continue supporting government programmes, protect public infrastructure and work with the Assembly to sustain the district’s development gains.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
