Minister briefs British Government on Northern problems

Tamale, May 19, GNA - Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister on Monday tabled the myriad problems confronting the three Northern Regions to the British government for possible assistance to address them.

He said despite the British government's enormous support in the pre-colonial era to redeem the North of its problems, there had not been any marked change in the status quo of the area.

Rather, he said, new problems including the guinea worm disease had emerged, which needed further support to combat to enhance the area's development. Alhaji Idris raised these concerns when Mr. Nicholas Westcott, the British High Commissioner in Ghana paid a courtesy call on him in Tamale on Monday. Mr. Westcott is in the Northern Region to inspect British Government funded projects and other development initiatives by British NGOs to identify areas of further support to mitigate the plight of the people.

Alhaji Idris said the three Northern regions were still grappling with the problems of water, health, infrastructure, unemployment and rural electrification, which needed to be addressed by the British Government as a gesture of reparation. He said the region was grateful to the Multi-donor Monetary Support by the British Government and stressed the need for funds to address the problem of peace and security, particularly, in the Northern Region.

Mr. Westcott said the British Government was mindful of the problems facing the entire country and it would do everything possible to help address the concerns raised by the Regional Minister. He gave the assurance that the British Government would also help to facilitate the promotion of peace and political tolerance in the region.