Tamale, April 17, GNA - Mr Boniface Gambilla, Upper East Regional Minister, has said District Chief Executive (DCE), District Coordinating Directors and Education Directors who cause undue delay in the despatch of furniture and other school material for schools in the region would be sanctioned.

He said it was disheartening to see large quantity of furniture and other school materials left in the open while children sit on the floor without books.

Mr Gambilla was speaking at the end of year get-together of members of the Bonaboto resident in Tamale on Saturday.

The forum offered the members the opportunity to socialise and plan for the future.

Bonaboto, which literally means "go and look for and bring to us," has the acronyms of Bolgatanga, Nangodi, Bongo and Tongo.

Mr Gambilla who was the guest speaker noted "this practice is drawing back the progress of education in the region especially students in rural schools whose parents are unable to buy furniture and books". He commended the objectives of Bonaboto, which is aimed at promoting education and improving development in the communities.

The Regional Minister called on citizens of the region residents outside the area to invest at home to create jobs for the people to raise their living standard.

He urged them to take the education of their children seriously since that could help develop the human resource base of the region to enhance development.

Mr Gambilla assured members of the association that he would work closely with them and other opinion leaders in the region for the rapid development of the area.

He appealed to people of the three regions in the northern part of the country to support government policies and programmes and to maintain peace to promote development. Mr Gambilla urged members of the association to pay the premium of the National Health Insurance Scheme for their relatives at home to benefit.

Mr Ben Anamoh, Northern Regional Chairman of Bonaboto urged the members to complement the development efforts of the government. Mr Peter Gbambilla, Secretary of the Association said Bonaboto had secured 12.5 million cedis for 25 women to undertake income-generating activities. He announced that the organisation had roofed a ward at the Sekina Clinic in Tamale through voluntary contribution.