Northern Rural Growth Programme Committee inaugurated

Tamale, Sept. 19, GNA - Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, on Friday inaugurated the National Programme Steering Committee of the Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) in Tamale and charged it to oversee the rapid implementation of the economic transformation of the Northern Savanna area.

The Minister who is also the chairman of the committee, told members of the committee to originate a programme implementation strategy for effective delivery in line with government's priorities. The 40-member committee of experts was also to review and approve the annual work programme and budgets prior to its submission to the donors, partners, and the Government of Ghana for action to be taken. Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi said the committee as a precursor of the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), was to ensure the effective linkages with other programmes to help reduce poverty and rural-urban migration by increasing development in the rural areas. He said the government remains committed in utilizing the abundant land and water resources of the North to make it the bread basket of Ghana .

Mr. Roy Ayariga, Coordinator of the Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) said the goal of NRGP was to contribute and ensure the equitable and sustainable poverty reduction and food security among rural households in Northern Ghana . He said the programme is expected to improve the lives of about three million people in areas of rural infrastructure, water facilities, increased agricultural production, processing and marketing, increase in household food security, and ultimately improve their living standards. Mr. Ayariga said the programme would develop about 800 kilometres of rural roads, 600 kilometres of feeder roads, 270 culverts, upgrade 348 kilometres of trunk roads, and 10 bridges by the end of the programme's eight year duration. 19 Sept. 09