Developing a vibrant, resilient, and profitable agricultural sector in Northern Ghana was one of the key thematic areas that engaged the attention of participants at this year’s edition of the Northern Development Authority, NDA’s Northern Ghana Development Conference at Bolgatana in the Upper East Region.
The conference also discussed how to get the manifestos of political parties to address the critical development needs of the five regions in Northern Ghana as the 2020 general election approaches.
Participants further deliberated on what could be done to secure the dignity and human rights of women in communities in Northern Ghana.
“Election 2020 and COVID 19; Opportunities and Challenges for the transformation of Northern Ghana’s Economy” was the theme while looking at Securing peace and security in Northern Ghana before, during, and after the 2020 general election.
Addressing the conference, Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority, Dr. Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya said the NDA has created an estimated 15,000 short term jobs across Northern Ghana under the implementation of the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Projects, IPEP.
Dr Anamzoya said the short-term jobs to all kinds of artisans were created through the implementation of projects in the areas of education, health, electricity, water, and sanitation among others.
The CEO of the NDA noted that the core objectives of the Authority are to accelerate the economic and social development in the Northern Development Zone through strategic direction, planning, and prioritisation of development projects.
A Member of the Council of State, Prof Yakubu Nantogmah Bo-Na, touched on the need for value addition to raw produce to create an attractive market for Northern goods.
Upper East Regional Minister Paulina Abayage said the 2020 Development Summit was designed to afford stakeholders and partners the opportunity to take stock and review the progress of key issues reached during the 2019 conference.
The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Saeed, said one of the key achievements of the previous summits is the implementation of the Pwalugu multipurpose dam.
The Special Guest of Honour, Mrs. Mary Chinery – Hesse emphasised the need to grow the Shea nut industry, which has the potential to trigger the economic transformation of the North. The conference was organised in partnership with the five Northern Regional Coordinating Councils, Civil Society Organisations and other stakeholders under the auspices of the Star Ghana Foundation, TAMA Foundation and the Northern Development Forum.
Story filed by Sualah Abdul-Wahab.
