Today marks exactly five years when former President John Mahama announced that his government had begun constructing five new district hospitals within the country in order to improve access to quality health care for citizens.

John Dramani made the announcement at the 39th Annual Congress of the Gonjaland Youth Association (GYA) at Buipe in the Northern Region.

According to him, the government was working to position Buipe as the industrial hub of the northern sector of the country, which would have inland port for cargo and other services as part of his then government’s transformation agenda.

Read the original story published by GhanaWeb on April 6, 2015

President John Mahama has announced that the government has begun processes to construct five new district hospitals across the country, to improve access to health care for all.

President Mahama, who announced this when he addressed the 39th Annual Congress of the Gonjaland Youth Association (GYA) at Buipe in the Northern Region on Saturday, said the government was currently working on funding for the take-off of the projects, which would be sited at Buipe, Bole, Yendi, Somanya and Wheta.

This year’s Annual Congress of GYA, which brought together Gonjas to deliberate on issues affecting Gonjaland, was on the theme: ”Ensuring the Effective Management of Natural Resources in Gonjaland: The Role of the Gonjaland Youth Association”.

The President said the Buipe Hospital would have Accident and Trauma Centre to cater for accident victims along the Tamale – Kintampo Road.

President Mahama said, as part of its transformation agenda, the government was working to position Buipe as the industrial hub of the northern sector of the country, which would have inland port for cargo and other services.

He said feasibility studies were on-going to establish sugar plantation and factory in the Northern Region, to produce sugar, and expressed optimism that through the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, the North would be transformed into an economic hub producing its needs.

He said the government was working on several important roads in the North, while others were being awarded on contract with the objective to open up the savannah region for agricultural production and investment.

President Mahama gave the assurance that youth development would continue to remain at the centre of his administration, and urged the Youth to channel their energies into productive ventures for development.

Yagbonwura Tuntumba Bore Essa, Overlord of the Gonja Traditional Area, whose speech was read on his behalf, called for unity amongst Gonjas, to accelerate the development of the area.

Buipewura Jinapor the Second, Paramount Chief of the Buipe Traditional Area, whose speech was also read for him, urged the youth of Gonjaland to enhance their skills to remain relevant in the socio-economic march of the country.

He pledged the support of traditional authorities in the area to the government, to ensure its development.

Mr. Alhassan Dramani, President of GYA, emphasized the need for sustainable exploitation of natural resources in the Gonjaland for the benefit of all, as well as ensuring environmental sustainability.

Mr. Dramani called for the harnessing of tourism potentials in the Gonjaland to create jobs for the Youth.

He commended the government for initiating numerous development projects in the area, and appealed for more.

Two pupils, who distinguished themselves in the previous Basic Education Certificate Examinations at Buipe, were awarded with computers, other educational materials and cash prizes.