The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Dr. Emmanuel Abeere-Inga, has emphasized the urgent need for a robust, efficient, and decentralized coordination framework to ensure sustainable development across Northern Ghana.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Donatus Akamugri Atanga, in Bolgatanga, Dr. Abeere-Inga stated that bureaucratic bottlenecks within ministries and government agencies in Accra continue to undermine effective project delivery in the north—despite the region being seen as a focal point for both public and donor-funded development efforts.
Dr. Abeere-Inga revealed that the NDA has already begun consultative engagements with technocrats across all five northern regions of Ghana, with the goal of designing a unified development coordination model that empowers local stakeholders and ensures that development funds are transparently and effectively utilized at the regional level.
“One of the major challenges is that people say Northern Ghana has many NGOs and funding support, but there is no visible change. The truth is, the money rarely gets here. It is hijacked by bureaucrats in Accra. What reaches our people is mere tokenism,” Dr. Abeere-Inga stated.
He cited the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) as a cautionary example. The initiative, which was expected to benefit Northern Ghana, was to be supported by a $60 million World Bank loan and a $50 million grant from the U.S. government (USAID). However, Dr. Abeere-Inga disclosed that the project was derailed due to centralized decision-making and fund control in Accra, leading to the eventual withdrawal of the $50 million grant by the U.S.
“The project failed not because the funds were unavailable, but because they weren’t used as intended. The funds were not directed to Northern Ghana, so the U.S. government pulled out. This must never happen again,” he emphasized.
As part of the NDA’s reform agenda, Dr. Abeere-Inga noted that the Authority is working to redirect donor funds and national development investments directly to Northern Ghana, with management led by regionally based institutions. This shift, he said, will ensure greater transparency, accountability, and impact.
The visit also provided an opportunity to congratulate Hon. Donatus Akamugri Atanga on his recent appointment as Upper East Regional Minister and to strengthen inter-agency collaboration for long-term regional transformation.
In his response, the Minister acknowledged the past credibility issues that plagued the NDA and affected its ability to deliver. However, he expressed renewed confidence in the leadership and vision of Dr. Abeere-Inga.
“We need to change the narrative,” Hon. Atanga said. “This new approach could be our turning point. But for it to succeed, the NDA must engage with the Northern Parliamentary Caucus to build consensus and secure national-level political support.”
As Northern Ghana continues to lag behind in terms of infrastructure, education, health, and agricultural development, both the NDA and regional authorities agree that strategic coordination, decentralization of power, and direct investment are the keys to unlocking the region’s true potential.
Source: A1RadioOnline.com | 101.1MHz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
