As the political campaign heats up for the National Democratic Congress, the NDC Zongo Caucus has, without fail, started their strides into the Zongo communities. As part of the NDCs’ commitment to the Zongo communities in Ghana, the Zongo Caucus has not failed to advise it policy designers on the needs, wants, and interest of the Zongo’s in the next John Mahama Government’s after months of stakeholder policy dialogues with the chiefs, elders, women and youths of the Zongos to well position the NDac and meet their expectations.
It became empirical for a return meeting with some stakeholders to remind them of the plans and vision of the NDC and John Mahama for the Zongo’s. Following a call on the tailors association, KOWA, at the Mamobi Mosque in Accra, the meeting was heavily attended as both parties were well represented by their respective and descending members.
In attendance from the NDC Zongo Caucus was Alhaji Mohammed Ashkar, Hajia Ayisha Marhaba, Hajia Mariam Amidu, Hajia Nadia Alhassan, and Nurudeen Mohammed. The NDC Zongo Caucus took the opportunity to opine the various key policies of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.
Iterating the 24-hour economic policy and it prospects for our ailing economy.
They belaboured the fact that the 24-hours economy will foster socio-economic development by bridging the huge deficit in production and the labour required. The NDC Zongo Caucus did not fail to mention their plans for the Zongo’s when they formed the next government in January 2024.
Some of the Policies they reminded the association of were:
- Establish the ‘Soyaaya Fund’ to provide working capital for
SMEs in Zongo communities. - Reduce the extremely high Hajj fares.
- 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. - Establish STEM and TVET model schools in selected regions to
serve selected Zongo communities. - Commence an infrastructure upgrade of the AL-Faruq
College of Education. - Facilitate the accreditation of Islamic schools, such as the
Institute of Islamic Research, to support training more Arabic
teachers. - Provide scholarships to Zongo and inner-city students,
particularly in the fields of Law, Medicine, Engineering, and
ICT. - Facilitate partnerships to establish Islamic tertiary institutions.
- Link Zongo and inner-city communities to opportunities
under the National Apprentice Programme.
The Zongo Caucus did not fail to add the plans to extend Muslim holidays on the Isamic calendar to meet the expectations of both Islamic sets. John Mahama’s policy on education and women was also discussed at that meeting. The programme on the “free Academic fees for first year tertiary students” was one of the key policies mentioned at that meeting.
Adding that the NDC plans to roll out the “one student one bed” policy by building student hostels to additional ones to ease the current student accommodation challenges in all tertiary institutions across the country. The reiterated the planned policy of building a women’s bank to assist with the capitalisation of businesses and promote social security for women.
