UK GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS SADA PROJECT

The Department for International Development (DFID) has extended technical assistance to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to enable it to achieve its goals.

Even though SADA programmes have not started yet, DFID has been assisting in drafting its pro-poor policy to ensure that the needs of the ordinary persons are well addressed.

Ms Sally Taylor, DFID Country Director to Ghana, said this when she addressed a press conference in Tamale where she gave the assurance that the UK Government would continue with its development assistance to Ghana.

The press conference was attended by the Northern, Brong-Ahafo, Upper West and Upper East Regional Ministers who come from the SADA programme areas as well as some of the Board members of SADA.

She said the UK had confirmed that Ghana was among few countries that would receive more aid from the British in the coming years, adding that the UK would increase its financial commitment to Ghana from 85million pounds in 2010/11 to 100 million pounds in 2014/15.

Ms Taylor said the UK Government, through the DFID would help Ghana in creating 144,000 jobs, provide family planning to 608,000 Ghanaians, distribute 4.5 million treated mosquito nets to help prevent malaria and a cash grant of 250,000 pounds to poor and vulnerable people all by 2015.

The Board Chairman of SADA, Mr. Alhassan Andani said the Board since its inauguration in January this year had met twice, one in the Northern Region and the other in the Upper East Region to deliberate on major issues that will have to be done before the full implementation of the SADA.

He noted that funds allocated to SADA would only be made available to it when employees especially the Chief Executive and other officers were appointed since they were supposed to be managers and signatories to SADA funds and projects.

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba on behalf of the five regions, commended the DFID and SADA Board for their enthusiasm in getting things done on time.