COMMITTEE ON UER'S GOLDEN JUBILEE PRESENTS REPORT (PAGE 35, NOV 2)

THE committee set up by the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) to plan the region’s golden jubilee celebration has presented its report to the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo.
Presenting the documents at a brief ceremony in Bolgatanga, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Donald Adabere, said the significance of the event could not be overemphasised.
The event, he said, would enable the region to highlight its achievements and to market its potential to attract investments and promote tourism.
Mr Adabere, who is also Ghana’s Ambassador designate to Mali, said the occasion would also be an opportunity to show recognition by way of awards/honours to distinguished personalities and institutions that had contributed immensely towards the development of the region.
He said in search of an appropriate theme for the anniversary, the committee considered education as the key to move the region forward.
In line with that, the committee proposed: “Upper East Region @ 50 — “Harnessing our endowed resources for accelerated development through education” as the theme for the year long event.
Mr Adabere said in cognisance of the theme, the committee had lined up a number of educational programmes, including public lectures, symposia, debate, essay and quiz competitions, to whip up the interest of pupils/students in the various educational institutions in the region.
He said a grand durbar of chiefs and people in the region would be held in Bolgatanga in addition to “District Days” for the nine districts in the region to showcase their socio-economic potential and rich culture.
Other programmes outlined for the celebration include sporting and entertainment events, such as U-15 soccer match for boys, volleyball match for adults, triangular tennis tournament as well as inter-regional soccer match among the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions.
The committee also proposed a boxing tournament between the Upper East Region and the South Central Province of Burkina Faso as well as beauty pageant dubbed: “Miss Upper East Region @ 50”.
Mr Adabere said the committee also proposed the creation of a website to give publicity to the event as well as a congress or homecoming of Upper Easterners, among other activities.
He said the celebration was estimated to cost about GH¢300,000 apart from infrastructural improvements and development.
Mr Adabere stated that the committee also proposed a special project to be known as “the Upper East Regional Golden Jubilee Project”.
According to him, the committee had proposed the imposition of levies on all the Municipal and District Assemblies, raffle draws, appeal for funds and sponsorship of some of events from individuals and corporate entities, as part of generating funds to finance the event.
The committee further proposed that the RCC should officially request for special funds from the central government to give the regional capital a face lift.
Receiving the report, Mr Woyongo commended the members for doing a good job, adding that the report would be thoroughly studied and implemented to ensure a successful celebration.
He said the first thing the RCC would want to implement in the recommendation was the creation of the website before the end of November, this year, because that would be the window to the celebration.
Mr Woyongo said the RCC had contracted a media consultant to market the anniversary and source for sponsorship for some to the activities to be undertaken during the period.
He said while the committee was doing its work, the RCC had also requested for funds from the Castle to rehabilitate the residency and the regional administration.
The regional minister stated that GH¢5.4 million had been approved for the anniversary celebration and the facelift of the residency and regional administration.
According to him, the money would come from the regional budget for 2010, adding that notwithstanding, the RCC was not despaired but was optimistic that the region would be able to source funds from the corporate world and well-meaning citizens and philanthropic organisations in the country and beyond.
He said an appeal had also been made to the Sports Minister for the construction of a sports complex to mark the occasion, adding that there were strong indications that the projects would be undertaken.
Mr Woyongo said as part of the face-lifting of the regional capital, contract had been awarded for a new street lighting project for Bolgatanga.
He expressed concern about the bad road network in Bolgatanga, which he said, was the worst of all the regional capitals in the country.
Mr Woyongo said realistic measures would be taken to have the roads reconstructed before the anniversary began.
He stated that approval had been given for the construction of two kilometres of tarred roads in the Bolgatanga Municipality, adding that the Department of Urban Roads would decide on which of the roads to be tarred.
“We are also making proposals for the asphalting of the Bolgatanga–Bawku road which is a an international route. The project is estimated at $96 million,” the regional minister said.