NDF to engage political parties on devt of northern Ghana
The Northern Development Forum (NDF) has identified priority projects and initiatives in six sectors of the economy, which it will lobby political parties to include in their 2020 electioneering manifestos to help transform northern Ghana and create jobs.
The game-changing priority projects and initiatives cut across sectors including agriculture, climate change, education, youth development, health, infrastructure, peace, security and tourism.
The Forum wants clear commitment, determination and dedication backed with clear funding and timeliness on the interventions in the manifestos of the political parties.
The NDF held a stakeholders’ consultation in Tamale in the Northern Region to validate the game-changing priority projects and initiatives to reflect aspirations of the people of northern Ghana, which will be used to engage the leadership of all political parties at the national level for inclusion in their 2020 manifestos.
It was jointly organised by the forum in partnership with Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA), and Tama Foundation Universal, with sponsorship from STAR Ghana Foundation.
Under agriculture and climate change, the NDF seeks a clear strategy for greening northern Ghana, stopping rosewood harvesting, developing the Pwalugu Multi-purpose Dam and water basins to support and assist all-year-round agriculture, revamping and reviving the cotton and textiles industries in the area.
In the areas of education, youth development and health, the forum wants political parties to include in their manifestos plans to establish youth business innovation centres to create jobs and wealth for the youth as well as dedication, determination and commitment to improve health infrastructure by constructing regional hospitals in the newly created regions.
On infrastructure, it will seek political parties to commit and dedicate to developing the Buipe Inland Port to ensure cheap and easy means of transporting cargo to the north as well as connecting all regions and district capitals with motorable roads.
It will also demand establishment of a centre for peace studies at the University for Development Studies to actively research into extremist activities as well as train chiefs on conflict negotiation to promote peace, stability and unity in the area to accelerate development.
Alhaji Osman Abdel-Rahaman, Executive Director of GDCA, who spoke on the next steps to be taken after the event, indicated that a comprehensive document would be ready by March 5, which would be used to engage leadership of political parties at the national level. -GNA
