Dr. Bawumia launches 5-year Development Plan for Northern Ghana
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has launched a five-year medium term development plan (MTDP) for the Northern Development Authority (NDA) at Tamale in the Northern Region.
The plan seeks to increase household incomes by 20 per cent through sustainable agricultural production systems, accelerate human development in the Northern Region through access to quality social services, and promote private sector actions capable of delivering broad-based and inclusive economic growth by 2025.
It also seeks to help sustain livelihoods by promoting capacity development across local communities on land governance, biodiversity conservation, and climate justice by 2025, enhance peace and social cohesion in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone by 2025, and create a professional transparent, thriving, and accountable institution that delivers on its mandate.
Dr. Bawumia expressed optimism that the NDA shall contribute to the realisation of the national vision and the global commitments which the country has signed onto.
“Creating opportunities for jobs and wealth can be realised if you anchor the implementation of the strategy on land governance, innovation, technology and digitisation processes that regenerate the environment and use…I, therefore, urge our revered Chiefs in Northern Ghana to use their traditional cultural linkages and ties which are based on partnerships, and collaboration to mobilise the energies of the youth and women to embrace this strategy and to work in oneness with NDA and development partners to implement this strategy, leaving no one behind,” he emphasised.
He continued that government was investing in TVET and other related initiatives that seek to build the capacity of the youth to drive the transformation agenda as espoused in the medium-term strategy.
“Investment in TVET education is in line with government’s commitment to human capital development. This would help address unemployment and migration of the youth,” he noted.
He commended the NDA for putting together the Northern Ghana Development Summit, and urged the authority to go beyond the fair and take concrete steps to improve the business climate of Northern Ghana, create opportunities for the youth, and spur growth at all levels and in all locations.
“As we all know, a thriving business environment can play key roles in creating jobs, increasing household incomes, and reducing poverty and vulnerability. I will challenge the NDA to relentlessly pursue this and to endeavour to engender the necessary faith and confidence in the economy of Northern Ghana to succeed. I will also like to encourage the various exhibitors and entrepreneurs gathered here to explore the numerous opportunities that abound in the agricultural and food chain, eco-tourism, and other critical sectors in Northern Ghana, and make worthwhile investments,” he said, adding that “The government will play its facilitation and enabling roles effectively to enable you to get good value for your investments.”
Chief Executive Officer of NDA, Sumaila Abdul-Rahaman, said the medium-term development strategy of the NDA for 2023–2027 was organically integrated.
He disclosed that by 2027, the MTDS aims to increase household incomes across Northern Ghana by 20 per cent by implementing sustainable agricultural production systems and further incentives for the acceleration of human development through the availability of social services in Northern Ghana.
He stated that the strategic action will eliminate extreme forms of violence to reach peaceful co-existence as the establishment of the Northern Ghana Peace Institute will empower the NDA on the security front.
Source: Daily Guide
