Low level of education in the North due to lack of modern amenities

Accra, Nov 20, GNA - The lack of modern amenities in the northern part of the country such as electricity, roads and recreational facilities, are largely to blame for the low level of education there.

"Teachers and other workers are often not happy when they are posted here. They think it is a deprived area," Ms Elizabeth Pijit Poyari, District Chief Executive(DCE) of the Bunkpurugu Yunyoo District Assembly in the Northern Region, told the Ghana News Agency, when she received members of Friends of Bindi, a Spanish nongovernmental organization, at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

The NGO members are in the country to inspect their projects within the District including a health centre; surgery centre and a social centre, all of which cost about 1.12 million euros. Bindi is the name of one of the towns within the District Throwing more light on development within the Northern Region, Ms Poyari said as a predominantly farming community, there was the need to assist farmers with inputs that would help them to attain maximum productivity.

She said in this vein, good roads and a reliable transportation system were most needed.

"Some farmers get great harvests but are unable to send their foodstuffs to the market because of lack of transportation."

Ms Poyari said it could take waiting for a whole day before the next vehicle to the main markets in District could become available, adding that this did not augur well for farmers within the area. The DCE noted that since most of the lands in the Region were not fertile, there was the need for assistance by way of enriching the soil, adding that this was most needed for higher crop yield.

She said there was also a great potential for the development of local industries such as sheer nut processing and soap making. Mr Marc Bons, President of Meloka Island in Spain, who accompanied the NGO members, said the progress of any nation to a large extent was tied to rural development.

He said having comprehensive plans of development for rural areas made it easier for NGOs and other relief agencies to assist deprived communities.

Mr Joseph La Bik, MP for Bankpurugu Yunyoo, was also at the Airport to meet the visitors.