By William N-lanjerborr Jalulah
Unless they change their desires for idolatry, alcoholism and polygamy, the people of the Upper East Region would remain poor and the region undeveloped, according to the Founder and Head Pastor of the Fountain Gate Chapel, Rev. Eastwood Anaba.
Delivering the keynote address at the maiden edition of the Northern Brother Summit 2013 in Bolgatanga, Rev. Anaba regretted that idolatry, alcoholism and high polygamy were common practices in the Upper East Region that drain the people of valuable resources that could have been channeled into their personal and regional development.
Over the years, the people of the Upper East Region have been blamed by their own social advocates like Mr. Noble Alagskomah for careless spending on alcoholism, funerals, polygamy, and idolatry, to the total neglect of education and other profitable ventures that would lead to their own development, and the region at large.
About three years ago, a research, conducted by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in the region on the rate of alcohol consumption, put Navrongo in the lead.
Evidence abounds of how residents consume alcohol, as every little space left at any corner is used as a drinking spot. Most of the drinking spot owners, either sell local gin referred to as ‘akpetashie’, or ‘Pito’.
The rapid springing-up of these spots also brings to question the role of the city authority and other government regulatory bodies like the Ghana Tourist Authority and the Police Service on the dangers posed.
The Northern Brother Summit 2013 brought together 50 delegates from the Northern, Upper East and Northern regions, as well as some from the southern part of the country, who were mainly young tertiary graduates and entrepreneurs of northern descent, to share ideas on how the poverty gap between Northern and Southern Ghana could be closed through the establishment of private businesses. There were also 20 observers and 24 invited guests.
The summit also served as a platform for some businesses to exhibit their products.
Rev. Anaba is the Patron of the summit with other Northern elites like former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University for Development Studies, Prof. David Miller, the Sakoti Chief, Naba Sigri Bewong, Deputy Regional Minister Mr. Daniel Syme, and the Chief Executive Officer of Bencyn Pharmacy, Mr. Benjamin Anyannah.
Mr. Roger Laari, Leader of Northern Brother Summit, explained that of organising the summit was borne out of their conviction that Northern Ghana had a lot private business potential, which could be explored to the advancement of the area.
According to him, the support he and his team received from their sponsors, and the patronage at the event were so encouraging that it had given them hope to plan a bigger summit next year.