Ghana’s quest to develop at a faster rate can be given a boost if issues of national development are approached collectively and in a non- partisan manner, the Chief Executive Officer of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), Mr Charles Akalyira Abugre has noted.
Mr Abugre said it is important for Ghanaians and politicians in particular to maintain consensus across parties when discussing issues of National development.
“We should ensure that we maintain a non- partisan focus on the issues of national development and we must all make an effort to think and work across the political divide for a common position on the development of this country and northern Ghana,”Mr Abugre advised.
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The SADA CEO made the submission recently when his outfit met the Northern caucus of Parliament to deliberate the Northern Development Authority Bill.
Mr Abugre told the caucus since a new management was appointed to run the affairs of SADA, it remained a priority to maintain a non partisan focus of the institution and hopes to build it in whatever name it comes with.
He stated, “We will build an institution that surpasses political tenure. We will build an institution that will have the capacity to be an advocate of the north. We will build an institution that will provide guidance for public investment and as a magnet for private investment.”
He continued, “We will build an institution that will be respected across all polical parties and also internationally .we will build and institution that all political parties respect so that as all of us move on, we will maintain a voice.”
Mr Abugre acknowledged former President John Dramani Mahama for the allocating of the current SADA office in Accra which according to him was renovated with support from some development partners.
“This building use to house four different organizations, but one thing we are thankful for President Mahama is that he allocated this building to SADA. With the support of Development partners and others, we have renovated it.We must keep building on it so that that development agenda is not forgotten.”
Mr Abugre informed the group that since the reconstitution of the management, “we have tried to achieve the first object of the law which is to provide planning guidance in a manner those points to a radical and rapid development of northern Ghana and we have done these at several levels.”
Speaking on the Bill, he pointed out that the bill is quite similar to the law but one thing that is not too clear is the financial mechanism and some minor issues of boundaries.
Over all, he explained that the objects of the bill, the functions, the focus are the same. He said the thrust of the law in Act 804 remains largely in the bill thus he thinks it is a good omen in making.
He advised the parliamentarians to debate the bill passionately and devoid of political leanings to ensure that provisions in the bill will inure to the benefit of the People .
The Parliamentarians assured they would thoroughly examine the bill and make the necessary input to ensure that it would be robust enough to stand the test of time when passed.
By Mohammed Suleman
