Cabinet approves Savannah Accelerated Development Authority bill

Accra, March 30, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday announced that Cabinet has approved the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) bill and would soon present it to Parliament. "Apart from what government will commit into the project, we have already received pledges from individuals and non-governmental organisations totalling $80million."

Vice President Mahama announced this when he launched the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Upper East Region at the Banquet Hall, Accra on the theme: "Upper East Region @ 50 harnessing our endowed resources for accelerated development through education."

The Region which was carved out of the then Northern Territories in September 1960 with only six districts including the current Upper West Region, now has nine administrative districts in fulfilment of the government's decentralisation programme.

The year-long celebration would among other things put up activities that would directly involve the Northern and Upper West Regions, due mainly to the cultural overlaps in the three Northern regions.

The Vice President said the SADA project would help reduce the lopsided development that had over the years maintained migration from the Northern sector to the Southern sector sometimes for non-existent jobs.

He announced that Sheabutter, groundnut and sugar cane industries would be established under the SADA project, adding that a Brazilian Company had completed studies to establish a shea butter industry in the three regions. Vice President Mahama appealed to beneficiaries in the three regions to attach practical importance to the project as it would serve as catalyst for development and retain the youth to engage in productive activities. He also called on parents to make maximum use of the free basic education to send their children to school to become useful citizens in future.

Vice President Mahama called on chiefs and opinion leaders of the region to embark on reconciliatory talks among the people to avoid the recurrence of ethnic, chieftaincy and religious conflicts in the region. "War can never solve your problems. You can continue killing each other but the problems will keep waiting for you. It is better we put a stop to the conflicts and dialogue for the development of our area." Mr. Mark Owen Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister said apart from the celebration, the people would also take advantage to advertise the business potentials and tourists attractions of the region.

He said eminent individuals and institutions who have contributed to the development of the region, would also be honoured during the year- long celebrations and called on all Upper Easterners to patronise the programmes to make it successful. 30 March 10