The Governing Board of the Northern Development Authority (NDA) led by its chairman Dr Hakeem Wemah paid a courtesy call on the Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Shani Alhassan Saibu, together with the newly appointed Acting Chief Executive Officer, Hon. Boniface Gambila Adagbila. The visit sought to deepen ties between NDA and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council as well as introduce to the Minister a Committee of the Board that has been tasked to restructure the organization to deliver on its mandate. Dr Hakeem Wemah expressed his appreciation to the Regional Minister for receiving the delegation from NDA at such a short notice, noting that, “this is a sign that we will have a successful working relationship going forward”.

The Ag. CEO entreated the Minister to consider adopting NDA’s masterplan dubbed “Growing Ghana Together: A Long-Term Plan for the Economic Transformation of Northern Ghana (NDA 2018)” which maps out key strategic areas for potential investment to transform the north. He mentioned that the document highlighted sectors such as irrigation and agriculture-related infrastructure; transportation including surface water and air transport; commercial agriculture and agro-processing; urban development; and light industrial parks among others.

Hon. Gambila urged the Minister to team up with the other four regional Ministers in northern Ghana to adopt the masterplan as an investment blueprint guiding the transformation of the area. He intimated that this will set a positive precedence for investment in the area and make it even easier for investors to identify specific areas of interest which are informed by scientifically documented evidence. He added that the growth of NDA is intrinsically linked to the development of northern Ghana as a whole.

Hon. Gambila further entreated the Minister to pay keen attention to the issue of youth indiscipline in the region, adding that, the youth lend their voices and strength to causing mayhem rather than championing development that would inure to their benefit. He said this on the back of threats of some youth groups to attack the authority over the dismissal of the former CEO, stressing that the citing of NDA in the Northern region should not be misconstrued to mean the authority is under the control of or exists to advance the interests of any individuals or groups within the region.

Hon. Saibu assured the delegation from NDA of his unflinching support in creating an enabling environment for them to be able to deliver their mandate to the people of northern Ghana. He went further to entreat NDA to also consider investing in skills training for the youth in the region to help reduce the idleness which he believes is a major cause of the indiscipline being experienced in the region. He gave his assurance to the Ag. CEO of his resolve to bring the other Regional Ministers on board with the idea of a common front for pitching NDA’s masterplan for development in northern Ghana to potential investors. It was his hope that this will give a boost to the investment potential of the area, leading to a massive transformation of the area by investors in the coming years.

The chairman of the Governing Board of NDA and Ag. CEO were accompanied by Dr Grace Bediako, Naba Sigri Bewong – Chief of Sekoti, Kuoro Salifu Dy-Yaka - Lambussie Chief, Kpembewura Bismark Haruna Banbage – Chief of the Kpembe Traditional Area, Mr Francis Tettey, Chief Nabila Sulemana, Hon. John Benam and Mr Mark Imoro, who are members of the Committee, together with the Deputy CEO for Programmes, Mr Stephen Yir-Eru Engmen; Deputy CEO for Finance and Administration, Mr Patrick Seidu; and Deputy Director, Corporate Affairs and International Relations, Alhaji Mubashir Mustapha Baba.