Bolgatanga: The United Kingdom High Commission in Ghana has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council to enhance socioeconomic development and promote peace.
According to Ghana News Agency, a delegation from the UK High Commission, focused on Northern Ghana, met with Mr. Donatus Atanga Akamugri, the Upper East Regional Minister, over the weekend in Bolgatanga to discuss development priorities and security collaboration, including efforts to resolve the Bawku chieftaincy conflict. The discussions underscored mutual interest in deepening partnerships, with the UK delegation pledging to review priorities for the region and enhance its operations to better complement the government's efforts to address challenges facing the people.
In an interaction with the Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Edward, Senior Counselor to the UK High Commission in Ghana, who led the delegation, emphasized the urgent need for direct engagement with local stakeholders to shape effective policies to enhance development and livelihoods of the vulnerable. 'We cannot fully understand Northern Ghana without visiting and listening to those on the ground,' Edward stated, adding that such dialogues ensured UK initiatives 'move in the right direction.'
Mr. Edward highlighted existing UK-backed projects in the region, including security assistance to civil society groups and non-governmental organizations working to combat violent extremism. He mentioned the AfriKids Ghana initiative as one of the social change interventions the UK government had undertaken in the region, adding that the initiative had supported providing quality education and healthcare to the people, especially the vulnerable.
The Senior Counselor reiterated the commitment of the UK government to help resolve the protracted Bawku chieftaincy conflict to ensure lasting peace returned to the area for accelerated development. On his part, Mr. Akamugri said the Bawku conflict was the top priority for the region and informed the delegation of the commitment of the Ghana government to permanently resolve the conflict, indicating that the government had initiated a multifaceted approach to addressing the crisis.
Mr. Akamugri emphasized the role of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) in identifying signs and signals of violence through surveillance and intelligence gathering. However, he noted logistical shortfalls as a significant challenge confronting their efforts and called for assistance in that regard. 'Vehicles and surveillance drones would significantly enhance our capacity to monitor threats and prevent escalation,' the Regional Minister said.
Mr. Ibrahim Abdul-Kadir Al-Hassan, the Regional Planning Officer and Acting Coordinating Director, Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, mentioned youth unemployment, educational infrastructure gaps, and limited access to irrigation systems for year-round farming as critical challenges facing the region. 'Irrigation support and access to improved modern farming tools would unlock agricultural opportunities for the youth and strengthen Ghana's food security,' he stressed. He also emphasized the need for strategic investment in healthcare infrastructure, particularly upgrading the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds to provide quality healthcare to the people.
