Regional disparities could spark conflicts - Dr. Appiah

Bolgatanga, Sept. 5, GNA - Dr. Francis Appiah, Executive Secretary of the National Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), has observed that if not checked immediately, the current regional disparities and urban-rural developmental imbalances could create future conflicts. He cited the Northern, Upper East and the Upper West Regions where poverty was endemic, thereby compelling the people of the area, especially the youth to travel to the southern sector in search of menial jobs.

He made this observation when he presented a paper on the topic "Socio-Economic Development" at a dissemination workshop for APRM Stakeholders in Bolgatanga on Monday.

"The Poverty gap between the North and the South are wide and must be closed to prevent future conflicts", he stressed. He suggested to the Government to adopt incentive schemes and pragmatic target policies to improve the living conditions of people in the three Northern regions.

"If better infrastructure such as schools, housing, electricity and attractive incentive are put in place, people would not refuse to work in deprived areas, especially in the North" Dr. Appiah held. He urged the elite from the North but living in other areas to return home after acquiring their professional qualifications to also contribute their quota to the development of the area.

Dr. Appiah emphasized that education was the key to poverty reduction, and appealed to the people in the area to take advantage of the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme to send their children to school.

He appealed to the Government and all stakeholders to help construct more irrigation dams in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.