ZABZUGU/TATALE TO ENDORSE MILLS - Presiding Member

(Daily Graphic, Oct 26, 2011, Page 13)

THE Presiding Member of the Zabzugu/Tatale district of the Northern Region, Ms Mary Tagba has stated that the people of the Zabzugu/Tatale district are prepared to give Prof John E. A. Mills a second term for responding to the needs of the people.

According to her, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government had instituted a number of development projects in the area, including the inauguration of a state-of-the-art poly clinic.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Graphic, Ms Tagba said the creation of the Tatale/Sangule district was the icing on the cake and that, by so doing, the people had reposed confidence in the ability of the NDC to deliver on its development mandate.

“We called on the government to give us a new district and the government responded accordingly. For us, this is an indication that this government is a listening one,” she said.

Ms Tagba said the creation of the Tatale/Sangule district would go a long way to promote economic activities in the area and create job opportunities for the people.

She said the separation of Zabzugu and Tatale into two districts would attract more development funds for the two areas and serve as a catalyst for the transformation of those areas.

The PM said the Zabzugu/Tatale area benefited from a number of development projects anytime the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was in power.

She cited the construction of the Sabari Brigde, which crosses River Oti, and the establishment of two secondary schools in Zabzugu and Tatale under the Rawlings regime.

She also mentioned the recent inauguration of a state-of-the-art poly clinic in Tatale by the Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama as another project that had been undertaken by the NDC government.

“Just as Oliver Twist asked for more, we too would still urge the government to do more for Zabzugu, Tatale and surrounding communities,” she stated.

“We urge the government to allocate funds for infrastructural development in the areas of health, education and roads,” she added.

Ms Tagba reminded the government that the road linking Yendi to Tatale links further to the Togo border and therefore deserved to be in a good condition to facilitate movement and trade along that corridor.

She also urged non-governmental organisations to extend their development programmes to the area.

“Many of our farmers are smallholder farmers and need assistance to go into commercial farming. We have a lot of women who are into income generating activities, like trading in shea nuts and foodstuffs, and they need financial assistance to upscale their businesses.

“We would also welcome any organisation that would be willing to give more training to our youth in employable skills,” she added.