Bawku witnesses developments in spite of security challenges

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bawku Mention the name Bawku and most people in Ghana will probably linked it to violence and a no go area. Yes, Bawku has in the past years had its fair share of tribal conflicts but gradually the municipality is shedding off those bad image and stereotyping and itching closely towards embracing total peace that will further fast-track development of the once vibrant commercial town and its people. The past four years and even beyond has seen the municipality witnessed some developments and contributed impacting positively on the livelihood of the people. Courtesy the relative peace prevailing in the area after several months of violent conflict in municipality in the past months, and the commitment of those put in charge to supervise the implementation and roll out of government plans and policies, witnessing some gains in terms of developments projects, even though more remains to be done. From the year 2009 to date, the Bawku Municipal Assembly under the leadership of Mr. Musa Abdulai has awarded several projects in the municipality spanning the sectors of education, Health, Water and Sanitation, Electricity and Agriculture. On the educational front, the District Assembly and its development partners constructed and rehabilitated 26 school buildings at the basic level across the municipality. The assembly with support from the GETFund has Construction of 6-Unit Classroom Block with Staff Common Room, an Office, a Store as well as supply of furniture for schools such as Lalsa Primary School, Bugzunde Primary School, Zuli Primary School, Tampizua Primary School, Wiidi Primary School, Winamzua Primary School, Daduri Primary School, Suweidiya Primary School, Sabon-Zongo Primary School, and Kpalwega Primary School among several others. Others schools such as Sunguure Primary School, Zuuku Primary School, Baribari Primary School and Zabugu Kindergarten School among others in the Municipality have benefitted from the construction of 3-unit classroom block with an office and a store. Senior High Schools in the Municipality have also not been left out in the provision of development projects. During the period under review, Bawku Senior High School for instance benefited from the following projects; six-unit classroom block, two six -unit staff flat, supply of twenty computers and accessories through GIFEC, one Mahindra Pick-Up for school administration and a borehole to ease challenges of accessing water. The Bawku Senior High Technical School on its part saw the following projects carried out under the review period. They include; the renovation of two staff quarters, construction of 12-Unit classroom block, construction of 6-unit classroom block, construction of administration block/library complex construction of a boys dormitory block, construction of a girls dormitory block. The contract for the construction of two bedroom 6-unit storey building staff flat was awarded. Bawku Technical Institute was also not left out in the developments efforts of the assembly. The school for instances had the following projects planted on its campus. Rehabilitation of a three-storey boys dormitory, construction of a three -storey girls dormitory, construction of library complex and ICT centre, construction of 2 storey boys dormitory and the supply of tools and equipments for all the twelve courses run in the school. “We as an assembly cherish the value of education. We believe it holds the key to developing the human resource base of our municipality, hence our readiness and commitment to provide the needed infrastructure to make attain our vision”, Mr Abdulai said. The Assembly had also distributed sports kits, computers school uniforms, furniture and exercise books to a number of schools. Apart from the few schools that were benefiting from the school feeding programme, the assembly had between 2009 to date increased the beneficiaries to 28 thereby encouraging an increase in enrolment of school children and giving jobs to caterers. In the area of health, the assembly with funding support from the District Assemblies Common Fund, Community Based Rural Development Programme, the Japanese Embassy, the District Wide Assistant Programme, the District Development Fund delivered a number of health projects. They include the rehabilitation of health centre for Bawku West Urban Centre, the construction of rural clinic at Bugri corner, construction of rural clinic at Tinsungu, construction of CHPS centre compound at Gentiga no. 2, construction of clinic at Baribari and construction of CHPS at Gentiga In the area of roads, the assembly has within the past four years carried out spot improvement of the Manga-Yuri-Kpereyega road, sport improvement of Mognori-Gentiga road, spot improvement of low cost-Wiidi feeder road and constructed the of access road to rural clinic. The four years have also witnessed the Municipal Assembly proving over 54 locations in the municipality with boreholes making easy for the inhabitants to access water, while a number of communities such as Nyourigu, Nyuorig-Natinga,Tinsungu, Gingande, Sabon-Gari, Bador, Bugri corner, Zulli, Sabugu, Baribari, Bawkzua and Zougon to the national grid. Mr. Abdulai who was inherited a turbulent municipality, attributed the successes of the assembly to the prevailing peace currently being enjoyed in the municipality and appealed to the chiefs and people to rally behind the assembly in its efforts restore Bawku to its former glory as a leading economic centre in the northern part of Ghana. Yes, Bawku may have gone through a turbulent past but credit must be given to security agencies and all other stakeholders for sacrificing their lives and time towards maintain the peace in the area. The town is noted for its commercial activities and to now many people travel to that parts of the country en-route to Togo and Burkina Faso even to Niger to trade, government is hereby encourage the fast-tract the rehabilitation of the Bolgatanga Bawku highway to ease the travel burden of commuter. It that is done and the roadmap for peace for Bawku is fully implemented. The ultimate beneficiary will be central government since it will spend less money enforcing peace in the area. -end- Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh