An economic empowerment policy blueprint for the development of Zongo communities in the country has been launched in Kumasi.The Zongo-National Economic Empowerment & Development (Zongo-NEED) policy document is a community-based initiative to mobilize leadership to determine a common roadmap for the development of the Zongos.It is spearheaded by the Zongo Youth for Development (ZOYOD) in partnership with the Azongo Development Planning Consult.President of ZOYOD, Ibrahim Arkil, says the intervention is geared towards changing the negative image about zongo communities and reduce violent political activism, and rather redirect the energies of the youth towards development.“The national policy framework has been developed to serve as the basis to mobilize resources for a national conference for the adoption of the ZONGO-NEED policy blueprint for implementation”, he said.According to Ibrahim, an institutional award scheme dubbed: the ZONGO PATRIOT AWARD is being established to recognize companies, public–spirited individuals and entities committed to supporting Zongo development through the initiative.Sarkin Zongo, Alhaji Umar Farouk Saeed wants all stakeholders, especially elders of Zongo communities to support the initiative as a vehicle to lay the foundation for the empowerment and economic development of the Zongo communities.“The fundamental fact about [this] development is to initiate and ask for assistance than to ask for assistance without initiative. By this initiative, Zongo communities would then have the capacity to partner Government, donor Agencies, NGOs and other corporate bodies to support developments in the Zongo communities in the Country”, he noted.He cautioned the youth leaders to resist all attempts to play politics with the project.“This project is above politics and must be preserved as a religious commitment to ensure that it becomes the central point where the diverse interest of all zongo converges for development to bequeath a new zongo to the future generation”, Sarkin Zongo admonished.Project Consultant, Nyaaba-Aweeba Azongo, observed that Zongo communities do not lack resources for development, but the commitment, cooperation and the determination to lead development.“This is because the primary resource for the development of any community is her people and we have more than that including leaders and successful businessmen who could rub shoulders with their counterparts anywhere in the world”, he stated.The basic foundation for achieving development in the Zongos, Azongo said, is based on four interventions; including the establishment of a roadmap or as the framework within which development would be appropriated, a plan for sustainable implementation, an indigenous funding scheme and recurrent monitoring and evaluation of implementation.The first National stakeholder conference of Zongo Chiefs and leaders is scheduled for Kumasi by the end of October 2012, for the adoption of the ZONGO-NEED policy blueprint.The forum will provide an opportunity for the presidential candidates for Election 2012 to lend support and probable policy options in the event of forming the next government.