I have not diverted tractors – SADA boss

The Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) has labeled as false and concoction media reports that its chief executive officer had diverted tractors for his personal use.

An Accra based tabloid, The Ghanaian Observer in its Monday, June 3 edition carried an article captioned: “SADA Boss Dither Over Tractor Diversion Accusations”.

The article, which was authored by the Northern Regional Correspondent of the paper, Mohammed M. Bondiringbum, accused Alhaji Gilbert Iddi of diverting 12 tractors which were meant for farmers working on various SADA projects.

SADA in a statement signed by its Communications Director, Edem Worlanyo, insisted that the report was an orchestrated attempt by the reporter to twist the facts on the ground.

“The story, as purported by your Northern Regional correspondent, Mohammed M. Bondiringbum can never be true, is not and cannot be supported by facts on the ground, to begin with,” the statement stressed.

Below is SADA’s full statement

 REJOINDER: SADA BOSS DITHERS OVER TRACTOR DIVERSION ACCUSATIONS

Reference to your front page story of Monday, June 3, 2013 edition of The Ghanaian Observer, we wish to categorically deny the allegations that the CEO of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), Alhaji Gilbert Iddi has appropriated twelve (12) tractors for his personal use. The story, as purported by your Northern Regional correspondent, Mohammed M. Bondiringbum can never be true, IS NOT and cannot be supported by facts on the ground, to begin with.

Principally, there are laid down procedures and processes for the distribution of SADA tractors to beneficiaries. Allocation of tractors is done in a very open and transparent manner, to the extent that the CEO cannot appropriate to himself even one tractor. Indeed, apart from allocating the tractors directly to Technical Service Providers (companies mandated by SADA) to provide services to farmers, the allocation is done from SADA secretariat on regional basis. At each region a Regional allocation body made up of the Regional Economic Planning Officer (REPO), ably supported by their respective Regional Directors of Agriculture in consultation with District Directors of Agriculture conduct the allocation at the region. Below is the breakdown of the allocations made for 2012 and 2013 to buttress this claim.

Regional Allocation of Tractors for 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons

The ranking of responsive Technical Service Providers to the advertisement placed in the Ghanaian Dailies is presented to the regional teams alongside the allocation, as a guide for the allocation of the tractors by districts. The final allocation of tractors to end-users is therefore done at the Regional level AND NOT SADA secretariat. Against this background the CEO could therefore not have appropriated to himself even one tractor let alone 12 as the report sought to portray.

We dare say that there was a total incoherence in your publication. It is NOT TRUE that the CEO had arrogated SADA tractors to Salaga, Damongo and Ejura for personal gains as alleged by your reporter. It is only the regional teams that can allocate tractors to the districts. It may further interest you to note that allocation of tractors to Districts in Northern and Brong Ahafo regions for 2013 season is yet to commence. Clearly as at the time of writing this rejoinder allocation to the three districts of: Salaga, Damongo and Ejura are yet to be effected.

We categorically take exception to a line of reportage that will not adhere to due diligence and an in-depth investigation before going to press.

On the issue of tribalism by the CEO, the little said about it the better. Indeed, we wish to use this medium to invite your reporter to our offices to investigate the issue in order to ascertain the truth and draw your own conclusions.

In conclusion therefore, we wish to refute all the allegations and demand that this rejoinder receives the necessary attention to correct the unfortunate impressions it created.

Edem Worlanyo

Signed

(SADA Communications Specialist)