Since the government plans to publish all of the textbooks for basic schools nationwide locally, President John Dramani Mahama has announced a huge deal for the local printing sector.
He claimed that this will preserve the GH¢564.6 million allocated to the Ghanaian economy for textbook printing.
Speaking to the Tamale chiefs and populace during his “Thank You” tour of the Northern Region on Saturday, President Mahama claimed that the “no textbook phenomenon” was no longer an issue.
“If you recall, the previous administration changed the curriculum and yet, refused to provide textbooks for our basic school students.”
“This no textbook phenomenon will end this year (because the education minister) has assured that these text books are going to be printed by Ghanaian printers so that the money stays here in Ghana,” he said.
According to President Mahama, the government would make significant investments in education to equip the nation’s future leaders for the leadership roles that lie ahead.
For instance, funds had been set aside to give girls free sanitary pads so they could continue attending school and compete favorably with their male peers.
He said that money will be available to finish all of the region’s unfinished E-blocks and start new ones once the Ghana Education Trust Fund was uncapped.
President Mahama stated that the Northern Region in particular would significantly benefit from the government’s “big push” strategy, which aims to carry out important infrastructure projects around the nation during a five-year period.
He listed several projects designated under the region’s major push, including the Bimbilla-Nakpali bridge, the Oti River bridge at Saboba, the White Volta bridges at Nawuni, and Pusiga.
President Mahama had visited the Overlord of Dagbon, Ndan Yaa-Naa, Naa Abukari II, at his palace in Yendi earlier in the day and presented him with the government’s irrigation plan.
President Mahama stated that the administration aims to restore the Northern Region to its former status as the nation’s food basket, emphasizing that it has enormous potential for Ghana’s economic recovery.
“We want to recapture those days when the Northern Region was actually the granary of Ghana, providing the country with the food security it needs,” President Mahama stated.
The government must focus on irrigation developments because “without water control, farming becomes like gambling,” he said, citing the impact of climate change on rainfall patterns in the area and the unpredictability of agriculture.
“Our intention is to focus on irrigated agriculture and the Northern Region is going to get its fair share of the initial 10,000 hectares of land that is going to be put under irrigation. There is a lot of work to do but I know that with your support and prayers, we shall achieve all that we have set for ourselve,.” he added
Source: newsthemegh.com