Sada Needs A “Marshall Plan” – Convener, Cs Platform On Sada

Theophilus Dokurugu

The Convener of the Civil Society Platform on the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) Theophilus Ibrahim Dokurugu, is urging the Authority to have a “Marshall Plan” that all stakeholders in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone can buy into and actively support.

According to him, having such a plan does not suggest in any way, that the current SADA strategy is flawed. “It is brilliant; but could do more with fine tuning and additions in some respects. In doing so, we may, for example, need to ask the critical question – what are the five most critical development challenges of the SADA operational area?”, he observed.

In an exclusive interview with Savannahnews, Mr. Dokurugu said: “When this is answered, we can then prioritize them on regional basis since emphasis may vary from region to region. SADA can then relook its current strategy and see where it fits into the felt needs of the people it serves. Only then can it play its role of facilitating strategic planning, leveraging of needed resources, strategic partnerships and investments and coordination of relevant programmes effectively, in tandem with the local government system”, he explained.

Like a toddling baby, SADA, he said, may have taken a heavy fall in its first attempt at walking and gotten bruised. “Common sense let us know that a parent who would not want to see his or her child fall or get hurt in learning to walk ends up creating an able bodied cripple. What SADA like any child needs in spite of the challenges confronting it, is support, guidance and encouragement,” he adviced.

Mr. Dokurugu observed that, what SADA needs at this point in time and which all stakeholders need to lend a helping hand, is a time for reflection and introspection and charting a course that is guided by appropriate systems and structures that must be allowed to function.

Recent events may seem to suggest SADA has had a false start. For instance, the recent directive by His Excellency President John Mahama instructing the Board of SADA, to act in consultation with the Attorney General to terminate two contracts it entered into with Asongtaba Cottage Industries seem to give credence to this assertion.

However, going forward, like an experienced sprinter cited for a foul, SADA according to Mr. Dokurugu, needs to come off the blocks getting the basics right and powering to the finish line as a winner, warning “Anything short of this means an exit from the competition.” “This is achievable over the next sixteen years or so; so let us all get involve and play our part in ways that make Mother Ghana the ultimate winner”, he added.

He also recommended that, the public is well sensitized and informed about what SADA is as an organization, what its mandate is, its modus operandi and how the public can relate to it. “It should be made crystal clear to all and sundry from now on, that SADA is not a replacement for development programmes that government would normally undertake in its operational area; rather it is an adjunct of strategic investments and programmes that would accelerate the pace of development of the area to bring it to levels akin to the Southern parts of the country.” 

Mr. Dokurugu warned: “We should therefore be careful not to fall into the trap of GETFUND where if one was confronted with a challenge in education, one was simply told “Go to GETFUND”. It is therefore hardly surprising that the Fund is facing challenges to the extent that payment of the stipend of students on GETFUND Scholarship abroad is behind schedule.”