Zongo Ministry to foster unity through “Zongo Soccer League”

By Samira Larbie, GNA    

Accra, July 18, GNA - The Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development is seeking to introduce a “Zongo Soccer League” to unearth talents in Zongo communities to foster unity and social cohesion.

This followed a nationwide consultation exercise embarked on by a team from the Zongo Development Fund.

Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the Sector Minister, made this known at a press soiree in Accra to discuss current happenings at the Ministry.

He said leaders of the Zongo communities nationwide were happy and have endorsed the initiative, adding that, this would help greatly as the country would be able to unearth the talents of the youth.

Dr Hamid noted that in a few months’ time, the Ministry would collaborate with the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as the Sports Authority to map out strategies for the soccer league to materialize.

He gave updates regarding on-going projects in Zongo communities such as the recreational facilities, and libraries that would be established to enhance education.

The Minister said though the Ministry was facing some challengers, many lives had been affected within the one and a half years of its existence.

He said the Ministry had come to stay and would do its best to ensure that it was stabilized so that a change of ministers or even government would not affect its operations.

He noted that the Ministry would improve on infrastructure to affect the lives of the people, in accordance with the President’s seven-year programme of Economic and Social Development blue print.

“Commencement warrant has been released to the Zongo Development Fund for a wide range of projects across Zongo communities and validation exercises had been completed in many of these societies.

In the next few weeks’ procurement processes would start for the awarding of contracts,” he said.

The Ministry would also embark on a pilot Adult Education Programme in Zongo communities, starting from the Greater Accra Region, precisely Nima, Maamobi and New Town, as part of the Presidents concern to enhance education.

He added that seven learning centres had been established so far and recruitment of teachers has been done as well as a curriculum to aid teaching.

The Zongo Cuisine Programme has so far given skills to about 500 women in these communities and capital support from MASLOC would be given to the women to keep their business running, he said.

The Minister said eight months arrears for teachers, under the Arabic Teachers Programme, would be paid by the end of the week.

He said the construction of a College of Education, which specialises in Arabic, was underway, saying that, very soon some of the projects such as the Astro Turfs among others would be commissioned.

He assured that the Ministry would embark on a nationwide tour with the press to the various project sites to inspect progress of work.

GNA

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