NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT FORUM (NDF)
STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA

Background
The Northern Development Forum (NDF) is a citizens’ association embracing indigenes of the five
regions of Northern Ghana, namely, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah and North East
Regions. NDF has its foundations from the 2007 floods that caused disastrous loss to livelihoods, habitat
and human life in Northern Ghana. While the humanitarian catastrophe was pitiable, it created a
propitious moment for Northern elites to act together to respond to the situation immediately, and in
the long term. This led to the creation of the NDF which advocated vigorously for the establishment of
the Northern Development Fund in 2008. Subsequently, this Fund metamorphosed into the Savanna
Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), which was later renamed the Northern Development
Authority (NDA).
In 2019, the NDF partnered with the Regional Ministers of the 5 regions of Northern Ghana, the
Northern Development Authority, Star Ghana and TAMA Foundation to revive the Mole Dialogue Series
which was re-christened the “Northern Ghana Development Summit”. This maiden Summit brought
hundreds form across Northern Ghana drawn from a wide spectrum of stakeholders. It brought to the
Summit 14 heads of the major International Development Partners. The Vice President, H.E. Alhaji Dr
Mahumudu Bawumia, gave the keynote address and outlined several project interventions planned by
government including the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam, which was launched subsequently. The NDF has
since continued to interact with the government to ensure that all the promises are fulfilled.
Activities in 2020
In spite of the Covid-19 Pandemic which affected the planned programmes of the NDF, the organization
was able to undertake a number of significant activities including the following;

  1. A meeting with HE President Addo Dankwa Afufo Addo which highlighted the following issues –
    a. The Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam
    b. Appointment of Interim VCs/Registrars and University Councils for the new Universities
    at Wa and Navrongo.
    c. Exorbitant prices of building materials in Northern Ghana
    d. Special funding of NDA to ensure accelerated development in Northern Ghana to close
    North-South gap.
  2. Collaboration with STAR Ghana Foundation to prepare Northern Ghana-specific issues for
    incorporation into the manifestos of political parties

2

  1. Collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Councils, STAR Ghana Foundation and TAMA
    Foundation to organize the 2 ND Northern Ghana Development Summit (‘Mole Series’).
  2. Support for flood victims in the North East Region.
    Agenda for 2021
  3. Follow up on manifesto promises of the ruling party to Northern Ghana.
  4. Monitor progress on the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam.
  5. Address educational and academic retrogression in Northern Ghana.
  6. Collaboration with STAR Ghana Foundation to address conflict, security and stability.
  7. Advocacy on punitive pricing of building materials in Northern Ghana.
  8. Collaborate with Partners to organize the 3 rd Northern Ghana Development Summit (‘Mole
    Series’).

Issued by NDF