Deal with development inequalities - Akufo-Addo to Development Authorities

President Nana Akufo-Addo has charged members of the Boards of the three Development Authorities to do all within their power to deal with the inequalities and imbalances that have plagued the country’s developmental agenda.

Addressing members of all three Development Authorities and the Board of the Zongo Development fund, after administering the oath of office, and the oath of secrecy, Akufo-Addo said it is unfair that there has been so much disparity when it comes to development in Ghana.

He therefore urged the new boards to introduce a new paradigm in how the country’s capital expenditure is used to ensure equitable and even distribution of resources for purposes of development across the length and breadth of the Republic.

In his address, the President observed that the sad history and unfortunate outcome of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) should be a constant reminder to all the three boards not to repeat the mistakes committed by the managers of SADA.

The three Development Authorities – Coastal, Middle Belt and Northern Development Authorities – are tasked with the implementation of the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP). The Programme will also be responsible for ensuring the effective disbursement of the equivalent of $1 million per constituency per year, in fulfillment of President Akufo-Addo’s 2016 campaign pledge.

Earlier Appointments

President Akufo-Addo on the 13th of April 2018, appointed the Chief Executive Officers and Deputy Chief Executive Officers of the Coastal, Middle Belt and Northern Development Authorities. As a follow up, the President has sworn into office the substantive boards for the Authorities. The Authorities are thus ready to kick start their work.

Board Chairpersons/ CEOs of Development Authorities

The Boards of the three Development Authorities have Edmond Annan as the Board Chairman, of the Coastal Development Authority and Samuel Attah-Mensah, as its Chief Executive Officer.

The Middle Belt Development Authority has Alex Kwaku Korankye as its Board Chairman and Joe Danquah as its Chief Executive. The Northern Development Authority has Hakeem Ahmed Wemah as its Board Chairman and Dr. Abdul-Majeed Heroin as its Chief Executive.

All the three boards have additional eleven members constituting the thirteen member board for each of the three Development Authorities.