By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, May 09, GNA –Alhaji Adam Abubakari Takoro, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive has outlined achievements and ongoing government interventions within the Tamale Metropolis under the government’s “Accounting to the People” initiative.
Alhaji Takoro highlighted achievements in key sectors including education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, sanitation, youth employment, and local economic development at the maiden stakeholder engagement and town hall meeting in Tamale.
The event, supervised by the Northern Regional Coordinating Council (NRCC), formed part of efforts to replicate President John Dramani Mahama’s “Resetting Agenda” stakeholder engagement initiative across Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the country.
It brought together traditional authorities, assembly members, heads of department, religious leaders, youth groups, civil society organisations, and members of the public.
Alhaji Takoro touched on security and said the Assembly inherited challenges including drug abuse, petty theft, and tensions in some communities but collaboration between the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), traditional authorities, religious leaders, and security agencies had restored relative calm.
He said the Assembly projected an Internally-Generated Fund target of GH¢5,792,514.00 for the 2026 fiscal year but had generated GH¢1,361,145.84 by the end of the first quarter, representing 23 per cent of the annual target.
He expressed concern over low property rate collection and announced plans to designate all 41 electoral areas as revenue collection zones on commission basis to improve mobilisation.
He said public sensitisation exercises on property rates, motorbike rates, and other levies would begin ahead of the implementation of the new revenue measures on June 01, 2026.
He said the Assembly received more than GH¢6.2 million from the District Assemblies Common Fund for the fourth quarter of 2025 in addition to allocations for Persons with Disabilities, HIV/AIDS interventions, and MPs’ Common Fund allocations.
He, however, lamented delays in the release of over GH¢8.2 million expected under the District Assemblies Common Fund Responsive Factor Grant (DACF-RFG) despite the Assembly’s strong performance in the 2024 District Performance Assessment Tool evaluation.
Alhaji Takoro said the Assembly had constructed and furnished classroom blocks and kindergarten facilities at Dalogyili, Gumbihini, and Lamashehu usving DACF funding.
He added that over 1,170 dual desks, 1,450 mono desks, and several chairs and tables had been supplied to schools across the metropolis to improve teaching and learning conditions.
Alhaji Takoro acknowledged the strategic role of the Tamale Teaching Hospital as the major referral facility and disclosed that government had initiated reforms to improve healthcare delivery following a recent ministerial visit.
He announced the completion of Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds at Kudula and Dohinayili to improve access to healthcare in underserved communities.
On agriculture, he said government’s interventions under the Feed Ghana Programme and the Input and Mechanisation Support Programme had benefitted thousands of farmers.
He said more than 8,300 bags of fertiliser had been distributed to farmers while an additional 1,000 bags, secured through collaboration with the Global Agricultural and Food Security Programme, were distributed to over 1,000 farmers from 27 communities.
He added that the Assembly supported livestock and poultry production through the distribution of 12,400 guinea fowl chicks and 755 improved cockerels to farmers including persons with disabilities.
On local economic development, he said contracts had been awarded for the construction of 128 lockable stores at Aboabo and Lamashegu under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
Alhaji Takoro also highlighted the commencement of the 24-Hour Economy Market Project at Kukuo, which President Mahama cut sod for the construction on April 18, 2026.
On addressing youth employment, he said 1,338 young people had benefitted from various Youth Employment Agency modules while more than 1,600 women and unemployed youth received entrepreneurship and skills training under the Ghana Enterprise Agency and Mastercard Foundation programmes.
He said beneficiaries were trained in vocational and business development skills while some received startup kits and financial support to establish businesses.
Alhaji Takoro stated that the Assembly had embraced the National Sanitation Day initiative and procured two tricycles while engaging 84 street sweepers to maintain cleanliness within the central business district.
He said four community dams at Fooshegu, Kpanvo, Koutingli, and Dungu had been dredged to improve water retention and environmental management.
He highlighted Tamale’s participation in the European Union-funded Sustainable Cities Project being implemented jointly with the Sagnarigu Municipality to improve urban planning, climate resilience, waste management, and infrastructure coordination.
He added that Tamale had joined the Ghana Smart SDGs Cities Programme being implemented by the Ministry of Local Government with support from UN-Habitat and the Government of Norway to strengthen evidence-based planning and institutional digitalisation.
Alhaji Takoro announced that the metropolis had benefitted significantly from government’s “Big Push” infrastructure agenda and mentioned ongoing rehabilitation works on the two major ring roads linking the Industrial Area, Sagnarigu, King David, Taha, and Yendi Barrier corridors.
He added that work had commenced on the 34-kilometre Target inner roads project while additional road projects were ongoing at Dabokpa, Gulkpeg-Tua, Gumbihini, and Jakarayili.
He said the District Roads Improvement Programme equipment had also facilitated road opening works at Lahagu, Gbewa Residential Area, Tuutingli, and Chanshegu.
He revealed that the Assembly disbursed GH¢231,800 in 2025 to support Persons with Disabilities in education, healthcare, petty trading, farming, and vocational skills training.
Mr Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf, described the engagement as an important step towards strengthening accountability and inclusive governance.
He said the initiative demonstrated government’s commitment to bringing governance closer to the people and creating opportunities for citizens to appreciate ongoing development efforts and contribute meaningfully to governance processes.
Mr Abudu commended the TMA for organising the engagement and reiterated the commitment of the NRCC to supporting MMDAs in implementing government’s programmes aimed at improving livelihoods and accelerating socio-economic development.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Lydia Kukua Asamoah