PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN JANUARY 2012

A two week Public Education Campaign on the 2012 budget has ended successfully in the West Gonja District of the Northern Region.

The campaign which was jointly organized by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and the Ministry of Information aimed at educating and informing Ghanaians on the achievements of the Government in the previous year and being accountable to its people as well as creating a way forward in 2012.

The campaign started on 4th January, 2012 and ended on, 14th January 2012.

The campaign covered about 80% of the communities in the district.

The crew had talks in all the communities without any film show.

Communities in four Area Councils namely Damongo town council, Busunu Area Council, Larabanga area council and Daboya Area Council were covered.

Besides, communities in two area councils in the overseas namely Mankarigu and Lingbinsi could not be covered due to financial constraints.

The exercise really attracted the attention of over 30,000 people who would move closer or stop whatever they did to listen attentively.

Poor road network and limited financial resources were some of the challenges encountered.

It is very difficult moving into all the corridors of the West Gonja District due to the scattered nature of communities

Comments from Audience
Even though, according to many of these listeners the Government has performed marvelously well over the past three years work is still slow.

To others, who have travelled out to other regions, their critical and urgent needs in their communities and work places have not been given attention and the little to benefit is dealt in a lackadaisical manner.

The concerns range from electricity, health centres and portable water.
Most people also expressed disappointment about the delay on the construction of the Fulfulso-Damongo-Sawla road.

However some farmers expressed gratitude for the various interventions government is undertaken to boost agriculture and urged that such interventions will be expanded to benefit most of the communities.

Crew
The Crew was made up of Miss Regina Atule the District Officer, Mr. Braimah Shirazu Cineme Commentator and Yerina Bulbase Assistant Mobile Cinema Operator.

Conclusion
The information service department is a powerful source of disseminating information to the grass root level, hence should be well resource to enable it carry out the task effectively. Government should be committed in constructing the Sawla Fufulso road which has become a major barrier to the development of the district.

BY BRAIMAH SHIRAZU AND REGINA ATULE