The Vice-President has revealed that the Zongo Development Fund (ZDF) was the brainchild child of his predecessor late Alhaji Aliu Mahama.  

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said the former Vice-President was concerned about the perception that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was anti-Zongo.

According to him, to do something to change such a perception, the late statesman proposed the idea to ensure that such communities received the needed attention.

He was speaking at a ceremony in Accra Thursday to mark the fifth anniversary of the passing of Mr Aliu Mahama.

“He said that we have to continue and not give up on the Zongos because you have to continue to show that you care about them.

“We were talking about and he said we have to do things to let the Zongos appreciate that the NPP is not anti-Zongo as the propaganda was at the time. 

“We see him [Aliu Mahama] as a pioneer as far as our politics is concerned. As Vice President to President Kufuor, he brought something unique to the table. He straddled the Zongo and northern communities. 

Dr Bawumia said from then, they started brainstorming on what they can do to make an impact in the Zongos by coming up with specific interventions. 

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

"So that is why when we brought that suggestion to Nana Akufo-Addo he immediately said that it is a good idea, let us put it in the manifesto, and today by the grace of God, we are establishing the Zongo Development Fund,” he added.

The governing NPP has promised to establish a Zongo Development Fund to regenerate Zongo communities across the country during the 2016 campaign.

The running mate, Dr Bamumia announced it as one of the party’s flagship policies at its manifesto launch in Accra. He said the fund will be used to invest in education, sanitation and healthcare in Zongo communities.

“The NPP will establish a Zongo Development Fund. This will be the first time in the history of Ghana that we are going to establish a Zongo development fund. The fund is designed to help regenerate and review our Zongos.

"Residents in the mostly densely populated Zongos are impacted by business activities, social conditions and affluence that are unique which require special attention. 

The Zongo Development Fund Bill under one of the newly created Inner City and Zongo Development ministry was approved last week by Parliament.

An allocation of $50 million was made by Parliament to the Fund which is part of the Presidency's budget.