The government of Ghana has given ?17.2 billion to the University of Development Studies (VDS), at Tamale in the northern region to improve upon its infrastructural facilities.
Frantic efforts are also being made to help upgrade and develop the Tamale General hospital to a teaching hospital status.
These were announced by the Acting Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Ernest Akobour Debrah, when he took his turn at the series of the Meet-the-Press.
Answering the questions of journalists, the acting Regional Minister said the University has to transport their medical students to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for practicals. which is a drain on the finances of the University.
Mr. Debrah stated that a lot of dams and dug-outs are being carried out in the region to help boost agriculture during the dry season.
According to him a Savanah resource management project has been set up to manage the destruction of the afforestation.
He noted that the Savanah is the only afforestation in the region and needs to be protected.
On agriculture, Mr. Debrah noted that the production of maize, rice and yam increased from 70 to 96, 63 to 86 and 620 to 700 thousand metric tonnes from 2001 to 2002.
This he said shows that the conflict at Dagbon has not affected the planting season very much in the region. He added that the curfew imposed also helped to bring peace and order for farmers to plant.
He revealed that about six billion cedis have so far been spent by government to maintain peace in the Dagbon Traditional area.
The amount was said to be used on accommodation, feeding and transportation of government officials and security personnel and on expenditures of the Wuaku Commission.
The acting Northern Regional Minister explained that part of the cost was human efforts which cannot be measured.
The cost of various activities undertaken by other organisations and individuals towards maintaince of peace was not part of the amount.
He said more than ?4.5 billion was spent on security personnel on duty in the region.
Meanwhile, ?100 million went to the Wuaku commission for the provision of transport of witnesses who appeared before the Commission.
Mr. Debrah admitted that the major conflicts in 1979, ’81,’84 and 2002 centred around religious, chieftaincy or ethnic issues between the months of January and June.
This periods he said are long dry season in the north when there are no faming activities.
He attributed the low literacy rate in the region as part of the causes of conflicts in the region.
He acknowledged the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), district assemblies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) efforts in educating the people to bring about peace and understanding in the area.
He hoped that he will not act for long as the northern regional Minister. He said the two deputies in his regions are supportive which makes his work easier.
