Northerners asked not to blame govt for under development

Alhaji Amidu Suleimana, Upper West Regional Minister, has asked people from the northern part of the country not to blame any government for the slow pace of growth and the under development of the area.

He explained that this is not the time for them to blame but rather a period to act collectively to accelerate development of the north.

Alhaji Suleimana was speaking on "The northerner yesterday, today and tomorrow" at the Northern Students Day of the Kumasi Polytechnic organised by the Northern Students Union in Kumasi on Saturday.

The Day under the theme "harnessing resources for development of the north", was to promote the social, cultural, academic and talents for the development of the north.

Even though the policy of the colonial government deliberately kept northerners ignorant to enable it to use the people as a cheap source of labour, they should not be content with the mass illiteracy in the area, Alhaji Suleimana who is the Leader of the Northern Caucus in Parliament said.

He said that even though post-independent governments did "quite a lot to salvage the north from its state of illiteracy" there is still more to be done.

Alhaji Suleimana urged educated northerners and those in positions of trust to help in changing the perception of the people of the area about education to enable them to catch up in terms of development.

Alhaji Suleimana asked the students to educate their neighbours and relatives when they return home to ensure a peace during the election period.

Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Deputy Minister of Education, in an address read on his behalf, observed that the expansion of educational facilities and infrastructure have created avenues for the people of the north to become educated and competitive.

"Nevertheless, it has become glaringly apparent that resources devoted to education are not sufficient enough to adequately satisfy the increasing demands for education", he added.

Dr Chambas called on northerners to augment government resources by establishing a fund to complement national efforts.

He noted that statistics indicate that the north lags behind in education and advised the youth and students from the area to be in the forefront in the quest for quality education.

Dr Chambas also urged northerners to resolve to complement government's efforts since by so doing "we stand a greater chance of elevating our communities and emancipating ourselves from illiteracy, poverty, disease and ignorance".

Mr Philip Fuseini, President of the Kumasi Polytechnic Northern Students Union, said the difficulties northern students go through in tertiary institutions is a major set-back to their desire to aspire for greater academic laurels and appealed to district assemblies to assist with scholarships.