Report by Nana POKU
The Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund, Dr Arafat Suleiman Abudulai has revealed that his outfit facilitated the enrollment of 972 Zongo sons and daughters at the various universities and tertiary institutions in the country.
“We have not denied any applicant who applied and we are still waiting for more. Most of these students come from Nima and Sabo Zongo. In addition to this the fund has sponsored 40 medical students to Cuba for medical studies. All this has been done in four years,” he indicated.
He said there are opportunities for anyone from the Zongo community who qualifies to apply and the process is very transparent and open. Besides, youth in the Zongos are also taken through skills and development training programs to make them employable and self-reliant.
He acknowledged the complexity of unemployment in the Zongos culminating in social vices but assured the Zongo youth of the government’s determination to tackle it head-on. The CEO enumerated the building of Community Sports Centres (Astro Turfs) in 18 locations in the country, all inaugurated and being used. This has engaged the idle youth and provided an avenue for social activities and events. Again the fund has built 169 six-classroom blocks and Islamic schools and all these projects have been completed and put to use.
Those in various stages were not mentioned. The CEO showed graphic presentation of the various projects. Certain social amenities like roads, toilets, drains, educational materials, accommodation etc, have all been provided at various parts of the country’s Zongos. He told the journalists that the country has over three thousand Zongos, still counting, and most of them are benefiting from the projects. All those places not covered are in the pipeline.
The CEO postulated that the fund is limited and can’t do all things so he appealed to donors to come on board to assist them. In answering a question he said need assessment is done with the community leaders, opinion leaders before they undertake projects. He said not a single project has been rejected by the community in question. He praised the government for the initiative that has assisted the Zongos throughout the country.
