By Ishmael Junourgh 
The Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozuing Esq. says government is making steady progress in addressing the region’s long-standing development challenges through investments in education, healthcare, youth empowerment, agriculture and public safety, despite persistent infrastructure and sanitation deficits.
The Minister’s assessment comes as the Upper West Region continues to grapple with inadequate social infrastructure, limited access to quality healthcare, youth unemployment and uneven public services.
In an exclusive interview with Bridge News, he outlined interventions his administration believes are beginning to improve livelihoods and expand opportunities across the region.
Hon. Puozuing, who was appointed by President John Dramani Mahama on February 7, 2025, said his administration deliberately prioritised education, healthcare, youth empowerment, agriculture and the fight against drug abuse as key pillars of regional development.
“Our focus has been to improve the sectors that directly affect the lives of our people. We have made progress, but we recognise that much more remains to be done,” he said.
Education Infrastructure Expands
The Minister identified education as one of the administration’s major investment areas, describing quality education as essential to the region’s long-term development.
According to him, government, through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), has initiated or secured 86 education infrastructure projects across the Upper West Region.
The projects include classroom blocks, dormitories, kitchens, dining halls and administration blocks spread across all the 11 districts of the region to improve teaching and learning conditions.
He said the investments are expected to reduce infrastructure deficits and provide a more conducive environment for students and teachers.
Wa Regional Hospital Pushes for Teaching Status
On healthcare, Hon. Puozuing said government remains committed to upgrading the Wa Regional Hospital into a teaching hospital.
According to him, a team of specialists inspected the facility late last year as part of the assessment process and concluded that it had attained the required standards for conversion.
He disclosed that the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs recently discussed the project with President Mahama during a courtesy call, during which the President reaffirmed government’s commitment to delivering the facility.
The Minister also said several Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds have been constructed across the region through the District Assemblies Common Fund to improve access to healthcare, particularly in rural communities.
Campaign Against Drug Abuse
Hon. Puozuing described drug abuse among young people as a growing concern requiring sustained intervention.
He said a regional anti-drug task force established last year has intensified public education campaigns in senior high schools through sensitisation programmes and debates while working with security agencies to intercept illicit drugs entering the region.
The campaign, he added, is now being expanded through partnerships with the Upper West Youth Parliament and youth-focused organisations to encourage young people to take leading roles in combating substance abuse.
According to the Minister, security agencies have also intercepted quantities of illicit drugs from suspected dealers and along some border routes.
Supporting Refugees Through Farming
The Minister also highlighted government interventions at the refugee settlement in Zini in the Sissala West District.
He said the Regional Coordinating Council is collaborating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Ghana Refugee Board, UNICEF and the Ghana Immigration Service to strengthen security, register new arrivals and improve living conditions for displaced persons.
As part of efforts to promote self-reliance, the traditional authorities in Zini have allocated 40 acres of farmland to support farming activities for the refugees.
The initiative, according to the Minister, seeks to enable the able-bodied women and young men to produce food for themselves while reducing dependence on humanitarian assistance.
Sanitation Remains a Challenge
Despite the progress outlined, Hon. Puozuing acknowledged that sanitation remains one of the region’s most difficult development challenges.
He said Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies have been directed to establish sanitation task forces to enforce proper waste disposal while identifying additional sites for waste management.
The Minister attributed part of the challenge to disruptions that followed the expiration of the Zoomlion waste management contract, which affected sanitation services in many assemblies.
He said local authorities have since recruited additional sanitation workers and are implementing alternative measures to improve environmental cleanliness.
Looking Ahead
While acknowledging that significant development gaps remain, Hon. Puozuing maintained that recent investments demonstrate government’s commitment to improving living conditions in the Upper West Region.
He said sustained collaboration between government, traditional authorities, development partners and local communities would be critical to sustaining progress and ensuring that development reaches both urban centres and remote communities. For many residents, however, the success of these interventions will ultimately be measured by their impact on access to quality public services, employment opportunities and improvements in everyday living conditions across the region.
Zakaria Rafique Seinu