Boniface Abubakar Siddique, Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development
The Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, Boniface Abubakar Siddique, has called on Zongo chiefs in the country to encourage their communities to be law abiding citizens and also contribute their quota to the socio-economic development of the country.
The Minister who doubles as the Member of Parliament for the Madina Constituency of the Greater Accra region, made the appeal when a 25 member delegation of the Ga Central Council of Zongo Chiefs ,paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Accra recently.
The visit led by the Council’s Chairman, Chief Sheikh Mohammed Jibril Sissy was to introduce the newly constituted Council to the Minister and to also discuss how to collaborate with the Ministry to undertake developmental projects within the Ga Central Municipality.
The Minister urged the Council under the Chairmanship of Chief Sheikh M. Jibril Sissy to continue to play their role as the ambassadors of the Zongos effectively within their areas of jurisdiction.
He further urged them to deal with issues brought before them fairly and judge cases transparently without fear or favour.
‘’As chiefs you are expected to lead your subjects by example with fairness, generosity, kindness and transparently in accordance to the teachings of the Islamic faith without favoring or fearing anyone’’ the Zongo Minister stressed.
He also expressed his delight on the constitution of the Council and called on other Zongo Chiefs’ to emulate the example of the Ga Central chiefs to help bring development to their people with a united voice He assured them of his office’s collaboration with the Council to seek their opinions on MATTERS relating to development of the Zongos and the Ga Central Municipality as a whole. Hon. Boniface could not hide his joy on the commitment of the Council to provide resources for the development of their communities and further urged them to be citizens who supports the government to undertake developmental projects to build a better and befitting Ghana for all.
On his part, the leader and chairman of the delegation, Chief Sheikh Mohammed Jibril Sissy, pointed out that their visit was not to seek for help but to find ways of collaborating with the Zongo and Inner City Ministry to bring development to the people of Ga Central.
He mentioned the urgent need for drainage systems, more educational institutes, hospitals and roads as some of the things they are lacking which they’re ready to commit resources and collaborate with the Ministry to undertake.
‘’We the Chiefs and our people are ready and willing to support your Ministry achieve its objectives,’’ the Chairman and veteran broadcaster promised.
Chief Sheikh M. Jibril Sissy, who also doubles as the Deputy Public Relations Office [PRO], for the National Council of Zongo Chiefs thanked the Minister for the warm reception accorded the delegation and promised to lead by example and ensure zangos in Ghana will live and coexist peacefully with other religious organizations as well as support the developmental agenda of the government.
The Secretary to the Council, Naana Khadidja Mohammed , explained that the aim of the Council is among other things to foster peace and unity amongst chiefs and the people of the Zongos within Ga Central, to collaborate and exchange ideas on preservation of various cultures within the various Zongo communities, to prevent and solve conflicts in respective Zongos, as well as, join hands with government agencies and the National Council of Zongo Chiefs to promote development within the respective Zango communities in Ghana.
Other members of the delegation include Yusif Nii Ayi Mensah I -Jaasetse Nii Boi Man/ Lapaz, Subdivision Asene Kotopong - Naa Kadee Anohuma I -Asene Kotopong, Queen mother Anohuma , Amidu Ali - Bisa Cheif Anyah Zongo , Musa Moba - Gurma chief Anyaa Zongo , Head of Wangara community- Ablekuma, Abdul Rahman Sala’udeen ( Head of Yoruba , Anyaa Zongo) among others.uba , Anyaa Zongo) among others.
