The Ga Mantse, HRM Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has called for a deliberate national effort to transform Zongo communities across Ghana, with particular attention to young people and women.
Speaking at a conference on the Zongo development agenda, he warned that unemployment, poverty and exclusion could leave young people vulnerable to crime, drugs, violence and extremism if meaningful opportunities are not created for them.
He said the future of Zongo communities depends largely on how the country responds to the needs and aspirations of its youth.
“The future of Zongo communities is sitting with us in the form of our youth. We must listen to our children, we must understand their frustration and recognise their ambition.”
According to the Ga Mantse, young people should not only be condemned when they go astray, but must be given opportunities before they lose hope.
“Unemployment, poverty, exclusion, hopelessness can create conditions in which young people become vulnerable to crime, drugs, violence and to extremism. We cannot simply condemn young people when they go astray; we must create opportunities before they lose hope.”
HRM Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II also praised women in Zongo communities for their contribution to families and local economies.
He described them as traders, entrepreneurs, caregivers and community builders who continue to support their families despite difficult circumstances.
“Women of our Zongo communities are among our greatest assets. They hold us. They are traders, our mothers, entrepreneurs, caregivers and community builders.”
He called for greater support for women to enable them to expand their businesses and play an even stronger role in community development.
Meanwhile, Local Government Minister Mahama Ayariga says government is committed to working with Zongo communities to address challenges including sanitation, housing, infrastructure and economic opportunities.
He stressed that redevelopment should not be about removing residents from their communities, but improving the places they already call home.
“The journey of working to redevelop the place is not about taking the people out of the community; it’s about redeveloping the place and it is perfectly possible to do it with the people in the community.”
Mr Ayariga urged Zongo leaders to work with government to develop structures that will ensure residents have ownership of the redevelopment process.
He believes this will help build public confidence and prevent development efforts from being viewed through a political lens.
The broader goal, he says, is to make Zongo communities more functional, efficient and liveable while creating new economic opportunities for their residents.
By Enyonam Haligah
