Bisa ethnic group called on the NDC’ national Zongo Caucus.

As the NDC’ national campaigns gather momemtum, diverse interesr groups are calling on different committees of the NDC fraternity holding meetings and discussions on the policies captured in the NDC’ manifesto.

Yesterday, 4th September, 2024, was not an acception for such meetings when the elders and youth wing of the Bisa ethnic group called on the NDC’ national Zongo Caucus.

This meeting was first and foremost organised to discuss their groups interest in the policies for the Zongo communities and the national agriculture programme outlined in the NDC manifesto.

The meeting was steered by the able leadership of the National Zongo caucus and under the wings of Alhaji Mohammed Mamah, fondly called in social life as “Cool Younger” and the entire zongo caucus committee members.

The heads of the Bisa ethnic group and their youth wing first commended the NDC, the flagbearer H.E. John Dramani Mahama, and the National Zongo Caucus for not leaving out the Zongo’s in their manifesto.

In the discussion, they raised issues on the Hajj policies, which they extended their gratefulness to the thoughtfulness of the flagbearer, the NDC, and the national Zongo Caucus for the extensive research done on the flights of the Zongo and Muslim in Ghana.

One of their keen interest with the Hajj policy was how to easily transport and effectively access direct flight from Kumasi Rihad in Southern Arabia and not to have to come to Accra.

The National Zongo Caucus explained that it was part of the plans of H.E. John Dramani Mahama, and it informed part of his reasons to upgrade the Kumase airport, which was one of the decisions for the face two of the airport in his previous regime.

The national Zongo Caucus seized the opportunity to emphasize some key policies for the zongo communities, including the national agriculture policies.

The following policies for the zongo’s were discussed and explained.

1. Establish the ‘Soyaaya Fund’ to provide working capital for
   SMEs in Zongo communities.
2. Reduce the extremely high Hajj fares.
3. Initiate an educational infrastructure programme to expand
   educational infrastructure in Zongo and inner cities, including
   the building of three new Islamic SHS in the Northern, Middle,
   and Southern belts.
4. Establish STEM and TVET model schools in selected regions to
   serve selected Zongo communities.
5. Commence an infrastructure upgrade of the AL-Faruq
   College of Education.
6. Facilitate the accreditation of Islamic schools, such as the
   Institute of Islamic Research, to support training more Arabic
   teachers.
7. Provide scholarships to Zongo and inner-city students,
   particularly in the fields of Law, Medicine, Engineering, and
   ICT.
8. Facilitate partnerships to establish Islamic tertiary institutions.
9. Link Zongo and inner-city communities to opportunities
   under the National Apprentice Programme.

These outlined programmes were very well received with great commendation amidst the ambience of satisfaction.

There were keen questions on some gender and social related issues, which arosed with particular interest in women and the future of the girl child to reduce dejection and hopelessness caused by the thievery, incompetency and corruption of the Nana Addo and Bawumia led administration.

The NDC national Zongo Caucus empathised with the Bisa heads and their youth, expressing their eagerness to save the country from it horrific economic situation.

Adding that under the leadership of John Dramane Mahama, the NDC is committed to not only the Zongo’s but will rollout carefully thought out policy for women.

This they listed by referencing the manifesto which itemise’

1. Mandate a minimum 30 per cent quota for women in all
   political appointments.
2. Establish a Women’s Development Bank- a special-purpose
   bank run by women to support women-owned and women led businesses with low-interest loans and other tailored
   financial services on very flexible terms. This is aimed at the
   economic empowerment of millions of Ghanaian women.
3. Launch a ‘Women in Agriculture’ initiative to promote young
   women’s participation in agriculture by expanding access to
   land in agricultural zones and financial support.
4. Resume the ‘Market Enhancement Programme’ as a
   comprehensive initiative to uplift markets and improve
   market communities’ overall conditions and well-being,
   especially for women.
5. Facilitate the establishment of 16 regional shelters with
   comprehensive support services for victims of gender-based
   violence.
6. Develop a ‘Survivors Care Kit’ for victims of gender-based
   violence, including free legal services, medical examinations,
   emergency contraception, HIV prophylaxis, mental healthcare
   services and necessary medications.
7. Free sanitary pads for female students in basic and secondary
   schools.
   GENDER, SOCIAL
   PROTECTION AND
   INCLUSION

On the issue of agriculture, the Bisa ethnic group shared their current frustration for the past years in the sector.

The huge loss they record each farming season, the scarcity of fertilisers and seeds, coupled with the high cost of living, making life a daunting quest for survival each and every day is a luxury they hardly can afford if it should continue for another year.

However, without any equivocation, the NDC national Zongo Caucus took the moment to comfort the group and asked them not to despair but have hope and work hard, and remember to vote for John Mahama in the coming general elections to alleviate the poverty in the country.

This followed up with the NDC Zongo Caucus to retort and explain the Agricultural programmes to be implemented by the NDC government to make Ghana a food basket in the subregion and the world.

This they counted to the Bisa group to be implemented:

1. Implement a Feed Ghana Programme to ensure food
   security by promoting ‘SMART’ agriculture to boost local food
   production for consumption. Under this programme, we will:
   ●Establish farmer service centres to support farmers with
   modern agricultural equipment, technologies and inputs
   in all districts.

Create Farm Banks within agriculture zones to ease land
access and irrigation facilities for agricultural purposes
and encourage young people to start farming.

2. Implement a Vegetable Development Project (‘YƐREDUA’) to
   enhance the production of tomatoes, onions, peppers and
   other vegetables through the following measures:
   a. Develop greenhouses and other modern infrastructure for
   controlled environment farming.
   b. Designate ready-to-farm spaces for sustainable open field cultivation under irrigation.
   c. Provide technical support for existing urban and peri urban vegetable farmers.
   d. Promote home, school and community gardening.
3. Revamp the collapsing poultry industry by incentivising
   farmers and promoting local consumption under the ‘Made in-Ghana’ agenda.
4. Roll out a ‘Poultry Farm to Table’ Project to boost poultry
   production in collaboration with Poultry Farmers Associations.
5. Roll out a Livestock Development Project to boost meat
   and dairy production, especially cattle, piggery and small
   ruminants.
6. Implement a ‘Feed Industry Programme’ to boost the
   production of local raw materials to ensure a consistent and
   sufficient supply of agricultural produce for industrial use
7. Reintroduce free fertiliser distribution, improved seedlings
   and agro inputs to cocoa farmers to increase yield.
8. Initiate a ‘Youth in Cocoa Farming’ project through a
   comprehensive support system, including facilitating
   partnerships with cocoa farm owners to revive and optimise
   abandoned cocoa farms.
9. Promote Cocoa Farmer Welfare and Support by:
   a. Reintroducing the Cocoa Price Stabilization Fund to protect
   cocoa farmers.
   b. Ensuring regular cocoa price increments in line with
   inflation and market trends.
   c. Restoring the payment of bonuses to motivate cocoa
   farmers.
   d. Building new and equipping existing health facilities in
   cocoa-growing districts to provide healthcare.
   e. Assigning a portion of cocoa receipts for health insurance
   for cocoa farmers.
   f. Operationalising the cocoa farmer pension scheme.
10. Facilitate the production of at least 100,000 tons of cotton in
    the five northern regions.
11. Launch a New Strategic Crops Programme to boost and
    process strategic commercial crops such as cashew, palm,
    cotton, and rubber in our agro-industrial zones.
12. Facilitate the establishment of Agro-Production enclaves
    with appropriate infrastructure, including irrigation and
    networked warehousing systems.
13. Refocus the Exim Bank to invest in concessional support for
    farmers through cooperatives and community banks for
    export promotion.
14. Reintroduce the fertiliser subsidy programme for farmers to
    boost food production and reduce inflation.

After the NDC National Zongo Caucus committiee was done with belabouring and explaining the Agricultural policies of the NDC to the Heads and youths of the Bisa ethnic group, there was a sigh of great relieve in the meeting hall.

Before the meeting came to a closure, both parties reiterated their commitments to each other to work hard to rescue Ghana from the tyranny and cleptocratic oligarchy of the NPP and it flagbearer Alhaj Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia.

As It became clear to them that Ghana has lost out on many great opportunities for the past seven to eight years under the blind and misleadership of H. E. Nana Akufo Addo and his mate Dr. Bawumia.