Government has indicated that its quest to develop the northern region would be a mirage if conflicts in the region continued.
It noted that the numerous disagreements over land issues resulting in violent conflicts continued to affect the developmental fortunes of the north, emphasizing the need for feuding factions to dialogue.
As a result, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru- Limuna, at the 58th independence Parade last week Friday in Tamale, observed that it is only through dialogue that factions would realize they are under the same umbrella with a common destiny and warned that generations unborn would not forgive the current leaders if by the time of their exit they bequeathed a tattered and divided society to them (future generations).
He therefore, urged traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders to be in the vanguard to speak more about unity in order to nurture a united society, fertile enough to attract development in all spheres.
The minister announced that the region had achieved the gender parity ratio in schools in all but six districts, noting that it is encouraging; and attributed the success to the provision of free school uniforms, exercise books, and computers to students.
He observed that there had been an improvement in basic school enrolment and outlined measures to sustain it to improve the quality of education in the region.
Alhaji Limuna also disclosed that work on the first five community day senior high schools (SHSs) at namong in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district, Wapuli in the Saboba/Chereponi district, Jamboi in the Kpandai district, Bamboi in the Bole district and Nakpayili in the Nanumba north district were ongoing.
He expressed optimism that work on those projects would be completed by the end of September this year, hinting that five more community day SHSs would be constructed under the second phase of the project to facilitate government’s free SHS promise which would be implemented in the 2015/2016 academic year.
These projects, he stressed, would not achieve the desired results if residents continued to live in disunity and perpetrated tribal, chieftaincy, gender, religious, ethnic and political sentiments.
Meanwhile, 16 pupils from various basic schools in the northern region collapsed during the 58th independence Day parade.
over 10 pupils collapsed at the Tamale Jubilee Park where the regional celebration was held, while about six pupils also collapsed at the Tamale Senior High School Park where the Sagnarigu district celebration took place.
Both the national ambulance and the St John’s, together with Ghana red Cross Society responded promptly to the cases by providing first aid.
Even though emergency service providers could not readily tell what might have led to the children collapsing, some suspected the unfavourable Harmattan weather, coupled with hunger.
Some of the pupils told DAILY GUIDE that they went to the Jubilee Park as early as 7am local on empty stomachs and that the weather was also not favorable to them at the time of the parade.
Some of them pointed out that Ghana’s First President, osagyefo Dr Kwame nkrumah and the ‘Big Six’ made a lot of sacrifices during the struggle for Ghana’s independence, and so organizers of independence Day parades should do well to provide the children with shades.
According to them, it was wrong for the organizers to make them stand for long hours like the security personnel who had undergone rigorous training.
From Stephen Zoure, Tamale
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