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The Minister in charge of Inner-city and Zongo Development, Alhaji Boniface Saddique Abu-bakar, has said the creation of the ministry is 'historic', adding it speaks volumes of how the New Patriotic Party-led government is committed to addressing the socio-economic plight of Zongo dwellers.

The Minister is also optimistic the establishment of the 'Zongo Development Fund' will support tackle infrastructure and the health concerns of people living in Zongo communities in the country.

The minister and his entourage have been embarking on a nationwide tour to seek divergent views from stakeholders on the Zongo Development Fund Bill.

At Bawku in the Upper East Region, Alhaji Abu-bakar, thanked the Ghanaian electorate for exercising their franchise in favour of the NPP, then opposition party in the December 2016 presidential and parliamentary race.

According to Alhaji Abu-bakar, the NPP is resolved to giving the Zongo communities a new face in its development crisis.

He reckons the contribution of the people residing in the Zongo Communities during the struggle for independence, and bemoans previous governments over neglecting the community.

"Since independence, the Zongo community has been neglected by governments. The contribution of people from the Zongo in the struggle for independence has not been recognised. The current state of Zongo reflect in social and economic challenges.

"Poverty, illiteracy and disease are affecting the Zongo people so much. The NPP government has, therefore, done the historic thing by establishing a Zongo Ministry and allocating a seed capital of 219 million Ghana Cedis to undertake many projects for the development of the people in Zongo", Alhaji Abu-bakar said.

He assures there will be equity in the disbursement of the Zongo Development Fund, saying the fund will take care of everybody in the Zongo community, regardless of one's political affiliation, ethnic background, whatsoever.

The legislator emphasised that the NPP-led administration had made a mark in its efforts of transforming the Zongo community by creating the Zongo ministry, warning that any future government who scrapped the ministry was simply an 'enemy to Zongo people'.

He added he never expected any government to change the status quo since that would amount to doing a disservice to the Zongo folks.

"The NPP government has initiated policies to empower the Zongo communities economically. We want to empower the 'Zangos' in the areas of infrastructure, health, education, among others. Some programmes and projects have already been outlined in the ministry's action plan.

"There will be economical enhancement for the people to enable them secure a sustainable human settlement", the minister stressed.

Abdulai Mumuni Dauda, a resident of the Zongo Community in Bawku, applauded the government for the creation of the ministry, noting the ministry would properly revamp Arabic education in the country.

The Minister, together with his entourage, wrapped up the stakeholder consultation tour in the region at Bolgatanga, where he met with some key people in the political and religious divide.