Francis Npong, Tamale
SADA- Millennium Village project (SADA-MVP), an initiative of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) is set to kick starts soon in 34 deprived communities in the Northern and Upper East regions.
The project which estimated to cost 18 million dollars and financed by theDepartment for International Development (DFID) would rollout massive development infrastructure in beneficiary communities that seek to transform local agriculture, economy, education, health, water and sanitation to improve the living conditions of the people.
The Chief Executive Officer of SADA Alhaji Gilbert Seidu Iddi who made this known the Enquirer in an exclusive interview after a validation workshop for SADA-MVP in Tamale explained that the project is a five year development programme initiated by SADA as part of plans to bridge the development gap between the north and south.
The project which he said would cost about 18 million dollars and to be financed by the Department for International Development (DFID) is aimed to scale up Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) based development plans in the beneficiary communities in the selected communities in regions.
“As part of the government’s better Ghana agenda these selected communities will witness massive basic infrastructure while latest agriculture technologies will also be deplored to improve traditional farming methods”, the CEO said.
He mentioned some communities such as Siliga, Nabari, Sariba, Duu, Jagsi and Katrigri in the West Mampurusi District and Gbedembilisi, Dalaasa, Kandem and Luisa as among the 34 deprived communities to benefit from this initiative.
He appealed to members of the selected communities to support the project when finally commerce in their respective areas to speed up progress of work.
The Northern Regional minister Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba pointed out that project is part of the NDC government resolved to open up the region to investment.
Aside these projects, SADA would rollout major infrastructure development across the three regions of the north and that it was putting in place necessary frameworks and structures in place to ensure SADA faced little challenges in implementation of its activities.
The government, the minister said was determine to reverse the decades of neglect of the north and was setting up structures for sustainable development to uplift the livelihoods of the people.
The minister said that currently there are ongoing high level discussions for sustainable funding for SADA indicating the government would be holding funding or donor forum on the programme soon to attract necessary donor funding for the project.
He appealed to people agitating against the government over SADA implementation to exercise restraints as necessary works are being done to commerce the implementation of the programme. “We want it lasting and sustainable but not to rush and face implementation difficulties in terms of funding”, he said.
Mr. Mabengba said that SADA would integrate and harmonize existing plans and programmes to avoid as possible the neglect of the ongoing projects in the area. He however, appealed to the SADA-MVP to include chiefs and media in the implementation of the programme to make it transparent.
The Minister thanked the government and her International funding partner for initiating the programmes urged SADA to put necessary things in place for a smooth runiing of the programme to benefit the rural poor.
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