President John Dramani Mahama has officially cut sod for the construction of the Bole College of Education, describing the long-awaited project as a major milestone and a “dream come true” for the people of Bole and the Savannah Region.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Bole, President Mahama recalled that the vision to establish a tertiary institution in the area dates back to his tenure as Member of Parliament for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency.“This is a dream come true because this project has been on the drawing board from when I was a Member of Parliament for Bole-Bamboi,” he stated. “Today is a proud moment for all of us that this vision is finally becoming a reality.”
According to the President, the absence of tertiary institutions in Bole for many years forced students who completed secondary school to travel outside the area to pursue higher education opportunities.“At the time, Bole had no tertiary institution, so our children had to leave the area in search of higher education elsewhere,” he said.
President Mahama noted that earlier efforts to improve access to tertiary education led to the establishment of the Nursing Training College in Bole, which has produced graduates now contributing to Ghana’s healthcare sector.He explained that although initial groundwork had begun on the College of Education project years ago, construction stalled due to funding challenges.
However, with financial support now secured from GETFund, work is set to commence in earnest.The new college is expected to accommodate about 1,500 students upon completion and is aimed at expanding teacher education opportunities in the northern part of the country.
Beyond the College of Education, President Mahama announced several major educational projects earmarked for the Savannah Region, including a new STEM secondary school at Tinga, a TVET centre at Kulmasa and plans for a University of Science and Technology for the region.“All these projects are designed to help the northern regions catch up with the rest of the country,” he stressed. “Education remains one of the most powerful tools for empowering people and reducing poverty.”
The President also unveiled a number of infrastructure and healthcare initiatives for the area, including plans for a modern district hospital in Bole to replace the aging facility built in the 1970s.
On road infrastructure, he disclosed that work is progressing steadily on the Wenchi-Bamboi-Bole-Sawla highway, a major route linking Ghana to Burkina Faso through Hamile.“We have always been concerned about the poor state of this road, but under the Big Push infrastructure programme, it is finally receiving the attention it deserves,” he assured.
President Mahama further highlighted ongoing works on the Bole-Chache road to strengthen trade relations with neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, as well as plans for a modern 24-hour market in Bole complete with a police station, fire station, warehouses, kindergarten and daycare facilities.
He added that additional feeder roads would also be constructed to improve access to farming communities and support economic growth across the area.“There are many projects coming to improve prosperity in this area,” the President assured residents.
Source:nkilgifm.com
