Why set aside SADA for Northern Development Authority? MP Queries



The Member of Parliament for Afadzato South, Angela Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay has questioned why President Akufo Addo’s government is replacing the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority with Northern Development Authority Bill, currently before, Parliament.

The MP, on the floor of the House, during the Second Reading of the Bill, wanted an explanation as to why the government wanted to do away with an existing law by bringing in, a new Bill to the House for consideration?

According to her, "…in 2008, there was the Northern Development Act, (Act 768). The year 2010 witnessed Savanna Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) Act 806 and today, we're having Northern Development Authority Bill, 2017 before us to be passed".

Madam Angela who is also a member of the Committee (Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises) which submitted its report to the plenary for debate, said, "when we are doing all these, it means that anytime a new government comes to office, it replaces the existing program for political gain", reminding the Party of  the saying that "government continues".

She said the NPP government could have polished, reviewed or even amended some of the clauses in the SADA Act, in accordance with their manifesto, without necessarily setting it aside completely.

The Northern Development Authority Bill, 2017 was presented to Parliament and read for the first time on 31st July, 2017 and referred to the Committee on Employment, Social Welfare and State Enterprises for consideration and report.

The Bill seeks to establish the Northern Development Authority to provide a framework for accelerated socio-economic development of the constituencies and areas in the Upper East, the Upper East West and the Northern Regions of Ghana.

Presenting the report, the Chairman of the committee, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi said that, the Authority, when established, will focus on regions, constituencies and areas within the Northern Zone of the country for the development of resources and stimulation of investment for accelerated development of those areas. 

In particular, "the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP), which is expected to make provision for annual allocation of funds for each constituency, together with other sources of funds, will enable government redirect capital expenditure for the development of rural communities in the Northern Zone".

 This, he stated will result in job creation, reduction in rural-urban migration and improvement in the living conditions of the communities, especially the rural ones.

Story: Francis Edzorna Mensah
GBCONLINE
---DECRYPTED---