Introduction
The chairman of the Northern Development Forum (NDF) undertook a six-day tour of Northern Ghana from 23 – 30 May 2021. The general and specific objectives of the tour were as follows:
General Objective
- The general objective of the visit was to deepen relations with various stakeholders as well as raise the profile of the NDF in the North.
Specific Objectives
- The specific objectives were to:
- Pay courtesy calls on all Regional Ministers, congratulate them on their appointment and map out areas of collaboration and cooperation with NDF.
- Call officially on the Ag. CEO of the Northern Development Authority (NDA) and formally express gratitude for financial support given to NDF in the past, and discuss areas for future collaboration and support.
- Meet as many like-minded Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as possible to explore avenues for closer advocacy alignment and coordination.
- Identify and coopt diligent and energetic persons in the Savanna and North East Regions respectively to represent NDF in these new regions.
- Take advantage of all media opportunities available to propagate the agenda of the NDF.
The chairman was accompanied by Mr. Mustapha Sanah, the Northern Regional Liaison Officer for NDF.
Northern Regional Coordinating Council
The team paid a courtesy call on the Regional Minister, Hon. Alhassan Shani Yakubu on Monday, 24 May 2021. The chairman briefed the RM on NDF activities in 2020 and also informed him about our Agenda of Action for 2021. The highlight of the discussions was the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam (PMD), and the need to put pressure on government to publish a definitive programme detailing milestones and timelines to enable all stakeholders monitor the progress of work.
Northern Development Authority
The team proceeded to the HQ of the Northern Development Authority (NDA) and met with the Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Boniface Agambilla and the chairman, Dr. Hakeem Wemah. The discussion centred on initiatives to strengthen the NDA financially, especially the outstanding issue of a dedicated funding source to facilitate the original objective of the development authority – accelerated development to bridge the yawning gap between North and South.
Upper East Regional Coordinating Council
Upon receiving information that the Upper Est Regional Minister was scheduled to travel to Accra the following morning, the team travelled to Bolga that afternoon to meet with the Regional Minister, Hon Ambassador Stephen Yakubu, MP. This meeting took place at the Residency and focused on some of the challenges that ought to be anticipated and managed sensitively during the construction of PMD. The unfortunate consequences of the dam would be the displacement of several households along the white Volta basin, and special resettlement plans ought to be finalized before this catastrophe creates tensions in the region. Additionally, the meeting agreed to put the spotlight firmly on the abysmal academic performance of Northern schools in the WASSCE Exams.
Gbewaa Palace
On Tuesday 25 May, the team paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of Dagbon, HRH Mahama Abubakar 11, at the Gbewaa Palace in Yendi. The Ya-Na was given a brief encompassing the activities of NDF in 2020 and planned activities for 2021. The team solicited for and received the Ya-Na’s support to advocate for the creation of a dedicated funding source for the NDA through the establishment of a Council of Eminent Northern Chiefs to champion this advocacy.
Savanna Regional Coordinating Council
The following day, Wednesday, 26 May 2021, the team travelled to Damongo to meet with the RM, Hon. Saeed Muazu Jibril. As in previous meetings, the Regional Minister received a thorough brief on NDF activities in 2020 and planned activities for 2021. Once again, the deplorable performance of Northern schools took centre stage, as well as the exorbitant prices of building materials in Northern Ghana, and the need to harmonise prices across Ghana.
Yagbum Palace
The team visited the Yagbum Palace; however, scheduling difficulties made it impossible to meet with the Overlord of Gonja. However, the team interacted with the Registrar of the Gonja Traditional Coucil and appraised him on upcoming developments which would require the buy-in of Yagbum.
North East Regional Coordinating Council
The team travelled to Nalerigu on Thursday, 27 May 2021 to meet with the Regional Minister, Hon. Zakaria Yidana. The team held fruitful discussions with Regional Minister, the Regional Coordinating Director and Municipal Chief Executives of Gambaga and Bunkpurugu respectively.
Upper West Regional Coordinating Council
The team was compelled to cancel the trip to Wa on Friday, 28 May 2021 when we received information that the Regional Minister had travelled to Accra at short notice.
Media and Publicity
A key component of the tour was the use of the media to create awareness and publicity. Each meeting with the various Regional Coordinating Councils was covered by both print and electronic media. The team also took advantage of the media to grant interviews after each interaction. Additionally, prepared statements were distributed to the media to ensure that the key messages were not lost or misconstrued by the press. The chairman did two studio interviews at Yem Radio in Bolga and Radio Savannah in Tamale. Media monitoring reports have shown that the tour was adequately covered in both the print and electronic media nationally.
Conclusion
The tour achieved most of its objectives and the personal contacts established with key political, social and traditional leaders in Northern Ghana would certainly place NDF in the centre of Northern development discussions. It would be useful to highlight some of the benefits of the tour:
- The tour has raised the profile and value of NDF.
- The personal contacts created with the Regional Ministers and tradional authorities would increase the influence of NDF.
- The RMs were eager to utilize NDF to articulate some of their more sensitive challenges.
- The continuous media coverage reinforced the elevated role of NDF as the sole Pan-Northern advocacy group for Northerners.
- The acceptance by all key stakeholders that the NDF must be part of all Northern development initiatives.