Gov't asked to update beneficiaries on SADA

06-05-2010
Narration: Participants at a day’s regional forum on the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) have expressed grave concern about the lack of citizen’s participation in the draft bill currently before parliament. According to them, the impact of the beneficiaries would make the authorities more belonging .They therefore appealed to parliament to make the draft bill available for the input of the public. The forum organized by SEND-Ghana in partnership with the Northern Development Forum (NDF) held at Bolgatanga, was on the theme: “Realizing the goal of SADA: The Responsibility of government and citizens “Correspondents Abraham Dimmie and Isaac Asare have the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.

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Report

The forum attracted women groups, chiefs, Civil Society Organizations, pressure groups, heads of departments, Representatives of youth organizations, a section of the public and the press. It was aimed at bringing together all key stakeholders to deliberate and provide meaningful contribution and ideas for the smooth implementation of the programme to achieve its desired goal. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Woyongo, in an address, described the forum as laudable since it is one of the opportunities for government to showcase the roadmap of SADA with the hope of bridging the developmental gap between the savanna zones and the rain forest zone of the country. He stated that government is committed to ensuring that the SADA programme takes off according to plan. In this direction, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning is devoting additional budgetary support of 200 million Ghana Cedis over the next four years to boost investment in value-added production, employment creation, and expansion of strategic infrastructure, emphasizing that under SADA, all inaccessible road networks and bridges linking the three regions of the north would be rehabilitated to maximize the use of fertile lands coupled with the provision of irrigation facilities to address the erratic rainfall pattern and ensure all year farming. This, According to him, would help in reducing poverty among the people and also halt the continuous youth migration down south for non-existing jobs. Mr. Woyongo in response to some of the concerns raised, assured the youth of job creation through SADA since several investors have expressed interest in establishing industries in the three regions of the north. A Representative from NDF, Madam Susuana Mahama, advised residents in Northern Ghana to refrain from conflicts and other negativities but rather learn to support each other to ensure peace and development in the north. She pledged his outfit’s support to the government in ensuring that the bill on SADA is given Parliamentary approval. The programme Officer of SEND-Ghana, Jeremiah Atengdem, in a presentation took participants through the features and strategies of SADA as well as its impact on the three regions of the north including the savanna areas of Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions. Mr. Atengdem called on the government to give current update on work done so far on SADA to alley all doubts, fears and misconception associated with its implementation. Participants during an open forum also expressed dissatisfaction about citizen’s non-involvement in the draft bill and appealed to parliament to accommodate views from beneficiaries before passing the bill into law.
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