Participants at a public forum on the 2004 budget at Wa in the Upper West Region have accused the Kufuor Administration of sidelining the north and not doing enough to address poverty that is endemic in the area.

The participants made up of teachers, civil and public servants, traditional rulers, staff of the Judicial Service and politicians, noted with concern the numerous Presidential Initiatives (PSI) in the South with none in the Northern, Upper East and West Regions.

The forum was organised by the Integrated Special Development Centre (ISODEC) in collaboration with the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and sponsored by Save the Children, UK.

The participants said while there were PSIs on garment and textiles, cassava, palm oil and salt among others in the south, there was no initiative in any of the three northern regions.

They noted that while over ?320billion was expended on the spraying of cocoa farms in the south no effort was being made to revamp the sheanut industry of the north, that was in high demand in both local and the international market.

The participants asked, ?When shall we have PSI in cotton, soya bean, groundnut, sheanut or sorghum that could relieve the people of their poverty when given the needed attention by government.

The participants contended that the budget and economic policy of the government was of no relevance to the people of the north since it failed to address the crop and livestock needs of the people, the majority of whom are farmers.

The called on President Kufuor to , as a matter of urgency an concern, initiative a PSI in the north and give it the needed attention as done in the south to help address the poverty situation of the people.

The participants said that the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy would remain a mere policy on paper unless pragmatic steps are taken to address the poverty in the north.

On sale of government quarters, the participants called for a thorough study and examination of the situation to advert a disaster.

Reacting to the concerns raised by the participants, Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary and Presidential Spokesman, said the PSI is currently on a pilot scheme and the government intends to replicate it in all the 10 regions including the North.

He said it was therefore not true that the north had been abandoned by the government. Mr. Agyepong said it was the policy of the government to develop all areas of society. The government appreciates the peculiar problems of poverty in the North and is doing everything possible to alleviate the situation,? he said. He said the road network in the north was also being attended to by the government. Mr. Agyepong said the railway to the north was a key to the development of the nation and that the ?the government is committed to its implementation.

?It is not a matter of dreaming as the participants are unfortunately describing it. Development cannot come overnight. Giving the resources of the state, it will naturally be a slow process, but it will be done,? he assured.