A Coalition of Civil Society Organizations in the SADA zone will from Tuesday October 25 engage flagbearers of qualified political parties for the impending election to share their vision for the transformation of the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone into poverty-free zone.
The move is to get all flagbearers of qualified political parties to give details of their development plans for the SADA zone and possibly commit to the Master Plan by the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority geared towards an agricultural-led transformation of the SADA zone.
The event which will run in the upper east region for three days starts with the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akuffo Addo who will be speaking on the theme: ‘The Vision of the NPP to Transform the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone into a Place of Opportunities for All, Free From Poverty and Inequality’ and will be followed by CPP’S Ivor Greenstreet and NDC’S John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking to A1radio’s Azongo Albert, Executive Secretary of the Coalition, Bismark Adongo Ayorogo mentioned that the CSOs in the zone want the vision for developing the North articulated to them in order for them to scrutinize to see whether they are feasible and will contribute towards the development of the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone.
He noted that the poverty rate in the country has been reduced to about 24% yet that of the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone is still on the high side with over 1.3 million people living in poverty, a clear case of inequality.
He was awed at the rate of untapped resources of the Northern Zone which he believes if tapped, will have a rippling effect on the entire country.
On his part, Divisional Chief of the Paga Traditional Area Naaba Pe Thomas, noted that although former President J.J Rawlings said the gross inequality in the system is the root of all conflicts and for peace, they have to tackle the problem from its root but he forgot that and that has accounted for the slow pace of development in Northern Ghana.
He mentioned that the forum will afford the opportunity to people in the zone to remind leaders of the inequality the North has suffered over the years and to put them into action and also help develop the Northern Zone.
He said Traditional Authorities expect that leaders of these parties do not continue their rhetoric which have been the norm over the years because “this time their lies will be seen because this thing will not be a one off thing but something we will do continuously to check whether they are committed to developing our place.”
By: Offei-Akoto Ayeh/A1RADIOONLINE.COM/GHANA
