NORTHERN GHANA URGED TO EMBRACE SADA (PAGE 42, SEPT 13, 2010)

THE Northern Ghana Youth Network for Development (NGYND) has cautioned that the initiatives of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) would make little impact on the lives of the people in northern Ghana if they fail to embrace peace.
According to the network, the most obvious threat to SADA was the absence of peace in some parts of northern Ghana, which could undermine the various projects to be undertaken by the authority.
In a press release co-signed by the Executive Director, Mr Muhammed Yakubu, and the Research and Policy Analyst, Mr Mark Stephen Kubire, the network argued that the pursuit of justice by some parties in the various chieftaincy disputes “ought not to be at the expense of poverty eradication”.
It, therefore, entreated the residents of the three northern regions to put behind them seeming differences and work together.
“We, as a people, must wake up to the reality that we are the same and that our friends from southern Ghana do not see any differences amongst us as to whether one is from the Upper East, Upper West or Northern Regions,” the statement read.
“Our development challenges and solutions are closely related. We must, therefore, find a common ground to spearhead a united development agenda,” it further stated.
The network said it would do its part to mobilise the youth in the north onto a common platform to monitor the activities of SADA and ensure that it addressed the pertinent issues.
The statement said to realise that objective, the network would organise a maiden conference in October, this year, which would bring youth from the three regions together to deliberate on the theme: “Bridging the capacity gap of the northern youth: Issues, challenges and strategies for an Accelerated Savannah Youth Development.”
The network commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and Parliament for expediting action on the SADA law.
“We are particularly appreciative to Members of Parliament for burying their political differences and putting a strong voice in the build-up to the enactment of the SADA legislation, which, in our view, would favour the public good of Ghanaians as a whole,” the statement said.
The network said the SADA bill was one of the most comprehensive initiatives ever taken by the government to speed up the development process in the region.
It, however, recommended that the authority paid much attention to the development of adequate infrastructure, particularly improving the road network, telecommunication, electricity supply and the provision of potable water.
The statement stressed the need for the government to actualise its pledge to extend railway lines to northern Ghana and also consider building an international airport for cargo transport in northern Ghana.
“This will facilitate the export of cash crops and other non-traditional exports such as sorghum and sheanut. It will also promote economic integration with our neighbours such as Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Niger and Mali,” the statement stressed.