The Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund (ZDF), Sulemana Arafat, has disclosed that the life of Zongo communities across the 16 regions have been impacted positively by his outfit.
The CEO said this during the Ministry of Information’s Press Briefing in Accra yesterday.
The fund, under the Act, 2017 (ACT 964) was set up to pursue in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner, an inclusive development that leaves no community behind, taking cognisance of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations’ Organization and upheld by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).
“Since its momentous establishment, the Zongo Development Fund has impacted positively on the lives of communities, individuals and organisations in Zongo communities, in the 16 regions across the length and breadth of Ghana”, he stated.
The Fund is mandated to provide financial resources to develop and transform the Social and Economic conditions of Zongo Communities through investment in Basic Services and Strategic Infrastructure, Financing Education and Training Programmes of the Youth in Zongo Communities, Support for Local Businesses in Zongo Communities, Promotion of Programmes to Support Tourism, Culture and Arts in Zongo Communities and Provision of Social Protection for the Poor and Vulnerable Children, Men and Women in Zongo Communities.
COVID-19 Response Programme
Sulemana Arafat said that during the intensive period of the COVID19 pandemic, his outfit partnered with Chiefs, Imams and other leaders in Zongo communities to educate, sensitise and distribute COVID19 relief and protective materials.
Community Sports and Recreation Centres
He further indicated that in the area of Sports, Recreation and Community Mobilization for Social Cohesion and Economic Development, the Fund has “invested in the construction of 18 Community Sports and Recreation Centres (Astro Turfs), thereby emerging as the foremost provider of community sports infrastructure in Ghana”.
To him, the fund recognises the inexhaustible sporting assets in Zongo communities and is committed to providing enabling infrastructure to unearth, harness and nurture these talents for sustainable socio-economic growth and development.
Additionally, he said the opportunities for community mobilisation through the colorful festivals, diverse social and cultural events to promote social cohesion in Zongos are immense.
Economic Empowerment and Educational Grants
The Fund, according Mr. Arafat, has provided skills training to 1,200 youth from various Zongo Communities and five hundred (500) youth have also seized the opportunity provided by the Fund to acquire training in specialized skills, financial aptitude and competence.
The Zongo Development Fund has, therefore, provided educational support grants to 972 students engaged in various academic disciplines.
Furthermore, he said they have facilitated and supported 40 students to pursue Medicine and related disciplines in Cuba, in order to increase the capacity of Zongo Communities to access Medical care when the students complete their education and return to serve their communities.
Way Forward
Addressing the gathering, Sulemana Arafat asserted that his outfit has been guided by the Strategic Plan of the Fund which serves as a guiding principle for the implementation of the programmes, projects and activities as well future prospects of the Zongo Development Fund.
“In the years ahead, we look forward to increasing our capacity to attract support, investment and collaboration through leveraging our unique position to supplement and complement funding from Central government”, he noted.
