A number of institutions and organisations in the Tamale Metropolis have held separate end-of-year get-togethers for their staff and partners to celebrate the prevailing peace in the metropolis that culminated in the successful hosting of national events in the past year.
among the institutions are the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in Tamale and the Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC). MOFA held an end-of-year get-together while the RCC held a press soiree where the Regional Minister and his team interacted with media practitioners in the metropolis.
the past year was eventful for the sprawling metropolis. it hosted the National Farmers Day Awards, the first Town Hall Meeting instituted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), among other national programmes. There were other events including national workshops that were successfully held in the metropolis without any reported incidents.
The pertinent question is why would residents and organisations be happy about the past year’s events? Residents have every justification to celebrate, because of the negative perception about the metropolis and for that matter the north due to unfavourable media reportage over the years.
At the Picorna Gardens in the metropolis where the MOFA held its get-together, one of the major success stories on the lips of both residents and staff of the ministry was the successful hosting of the National Farmers Day Awards.
They contended that such a situation was enough proof that Tamale and indeed the north was peaceful for which reason they must celebrate.
The Executive Director of the Association of Church Development Projects (ACDEP), Mr Malex Alebikiya, in his remark lauded residents and staff of the ministry for co-operating to make the National Farmers Day celebration a success last year.
He entreated suburbs of the metropolis to avoid bush burning, since such negative practices had a telling effect on the environment.
A former Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, Mr Sylvester Adongo, observed that a lot had been achieved in 2009, saying 2010 should be used to build upon the successes chalked up so far. He commended staff for their hard work, saying “let us endeavour to make a difference in the life of some body”.
The acting Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, Mr Michael Addah, said staff should continue working hard so as to intensify “our collaboration with all partners including non-governmental organisations”.
According to him, through the successful implementation of the block farming project the region had bumper harvests and urged staff to be committed to its implementation to help chalk up more successes this year.
The Central Gonja District Chief Executive, Mr Salisu Be-Awuribe, commended the sector for its achievement in the past year but said a lot more needed to be done to improve on the lot of farmers.
He suggested the introduction of more improved technologies to support dry season farming and post-harvest losses.
At the RCC’s press soiree in Tamale, media practitioners in the metropolis raised concerns about poor road network in the region and poor working relationship between the RCC and some media houses.
The Regional Minister, Mr Stephen Nayina, thanked media practitioners for being candid in their assessment of the working relationship between the RCC and media organisations in the metropolis.
According to him, “we have a lot to learn from you because he who cuts the path does not know if its crooked or not but it is those observing him from behind who would know and tell him”.
He indicated that the Tamale-Salaga-Makango and Tamale-Kumbungu roads would be looked at this year.
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