NORPRA calls on Government to review the C25M allocationto SADA

Bolgatanga, Dec. 24, GNA- The Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), a civil society Organization working to promote social equality and justice, has called on Government to review the 25 million Ghana Cedis allocated for the activities of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) when presenting the supplementary budget for 2010.

The President of NORPRA, Mr. Bismark Adongo, made the call when he led members of the group to congratulate the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo, for his open door policy and his skill and commitment in managing of conflicts in the region.

The President of NORPRA indicated that the 25 million Ghana Cedis allocated to SADA was not enough and suggested that Government should take a second look at it.

Mr. Adongo stated another issue of concern to NORPRA was the inadequate supply of fertilizers to farmers in the Region, and noted that it would seriously undermine farming activities if the situation was not addressed in time, since farmers in the Region were about to undertake dry season cultivation of rice and vegetables.

He indicated that if the situation was not handled properly and on time it could jeopardize Government's agricultural policies, especially the Youth in Agriculture Programme.

Another problem Mr. Adongo raised was the second time registration of motorbikes, and said it would overburden and worsen the plight of law-abiding citizens who did what was required of them by registering their motorbikes before 2009.

While commending the Regional Minister for his Open Door Policy which had deepened transparency and participatory democracy in the Region, the NORPRA President was not happy about the recent condemnation of the Military personnel in Bawku and said they should be given a free hand to experiment a new model to see whether the situation in Bawku would change. The Regional Minister commended NORPRA for their role in the development of the Region, and said dialogue was the best tool that could be used to address problems and not violence.

He assured NORPRA that he had already negotiated with the Ministry of Food Agriculture to release fertilizers to the Region to enable farmers to undertake farming activities. He reiterated Government's commitment to agriculture through the creation of favourable conditions for farmers to go about their activities efficiently.

He said about six combine harvesters had arrived in the Region and that Government was also working hard to ensure that tomato farmers in the Region did not experience tomato glut any longer. The Minister said some development partners from Thailand had also been in the Region to see how they could assist irrigation farmers to double their production especially in the area of rice, and indicated that Government would no longer spend 600 million dollars on the importation of rice annually.