The Chairman of the Northern Development Forum (NDF), Major Albert Don-Chebe (Rtd), has called to the attention of government and major stakeholders in the health sector about the devastating effect of Cerebral Spinal Meningitis (CSM) outbreak in six Districts in the Upper West Region.
In a message issued on behalf of the NDF on April 13, 2020, he said although attention has been shifted towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic due to its nature, government should give equal attention to all health concerns since all Ghanaians have equal rights to good health.
He considered the situation of CSM as a case of emergency and should be tackled with urgent attention alongside the fight against the Coronavirus, noting that ” CSM has claimed the lives of 37 persons in the Upper West Region.”
According to him, CSM is on the rise in the North with a mortality of CFR 15.4%, which is higher than the WHO standard of CFR< 10% and mortality rate of about 0.2% in Ghana and 2.7% globally in excess.
This, said, is classified as not a normal outbreak based on the figures provided and requires more than the ’normal’ attention.
On this note, he appealed to the government to treat the devastating nature of CSM as a matter of urgency based on the fact that it is a seasonal outbreak.
In an attempt to help fight the situation, he proposed that government should provide sufficient Pastorex test kits to facilitate early detection and Make available the necessary logistics for the transportation of samples to the various laboratories, including reference laboratories.
He also suggested that in addition to the two culture centers currently available in Wa and Jirapa, more should be created.
He also recommended to government to organise an all-inclusive communication platforms as well as informational and educational materials to speedily enhance awareness of the dangers of CSM and measures to improve its impact in CSM-prone communities in the North.
The Northern Development Forum (NDF), an advocacy group in Ghana, has appreciated Government’s effort to mitigate the plight of the kayayei in the wake of the COVID lockdown.
While commending President Akufo-Addo for his decisive measures to stem COVID-19, the NDF in a statement issued April 3, observed that this pandemic has exposed the vulnerability and fragility of Ghanaians especially those in Northern Ghana.
“The most horrendous reports of human suffering as a result of the lockdown has been about the movement of the kayayei back to their communities in the Northern part of the country, it stated.
In view of this, the NDF made a series of observations and proposals to mitigate the plight nd exodus of Kayayei as well as the poor situations in the five Regions in Northern Ghana.
Signed by Major Albert Don Chebe (Rtd), Chairman of NDF, the Statement noted that “all the five regions in Northern Ghana have rather porous borders, few officials and are also ill-equipped with resources.”
The the group therefore appealed for increased border vigilance, including the deployment of the military to augment the efforts of the immigration officials and provision of adequate logistics.
It expressed worry that “there is no single approved center for Covid-19 testing in the whole of Northern Ghana,” lamenting that “there are two research centers in Navrongo and Kintampo and other regional hospitals and wonder if these could not easily be upgraded to undertake testing for COVID-19.”
According to the NDF, “This would ease the national burden on the Accra and Kumasi research centers and will enable them to be effective in the national fight against coronavirus.”
The group called for fair and equitable distribution of the Personal Protection Equipment to Northern Ghana and other developed regions.
The statement also observed that the socio-cultural practices and behaviours have a great potential to nullify the national effort at fighting the COVID-19.
“We are therefore calling for a targeted support mechanism for religious and traditional leaders in Northern Ghana to engage in systematic efforts at Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) on covid-19 and public health in general to stem the devastating impact of the pandemic.”
“We have noted that in anticipation of the lockdown of Accra and Kumasi, mass exodus of female head porters called Kayayei would occur,” it stated.
According to the statement, “we know of the dominant communities which thus kayayees returned and it includes Tolon, Savelugu, Nasia, Wale Wale and Nyankpala.”
The Northern advocacy group called for comprehensive testing of these targeted communities that have received a mass influx of kayayee, saying that “we believe this will improve the Governments tracking of cases.
The NDF further noted with particular appreciation the efforts made to restrain the mass movement of some of the kayayee back to Northern Ghana.
“We know that this is a very difficult decision to make in balancing individual fundamental rights with the promotion of the common good especially that the fastest way of spreading this deadly disease is through human contact and movement,” the statement stressed.
Concluding, the NDF stressed that “we cannot talk about vulnerabilities without some of the communities in Northern Ghana that were devastated by rainstorms recently.”
It commiserated with the victims for the losses and harm that they have experienced and assured the President and Government of Ghana of their fullest co-operation and support in the common battle to defeat the covid-19 pandemic.
Policy Paper ( Revised Edition) The Northern Ghana Transformation Agenda for inclusion in Political Parties Manifestos for the 2020 General Elections in Ghana, under the aegis of the Northern Development Forum (NDF)
July, 2020
Contact Chair Northern Development Forum Major Albert Don-Chebe (Rtd) Contact: +233-540667224
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 3, 2020
As Ghanaians go to the polls, next Monday, December 7, to elect a President and Members of Parliament, the Northern Development Forum (NDF) is appealing to our compatriots to do all that it takes to make the elections very peaceful. The electoral process in Ghana since 1992 has experienced some level of violence; unfortunately, the phenomenon seems to be on the ascendancy.
We have observed that Northern Ghana tends to experience increased conflict around election time due to vote-seeking political individuals who misuse the youth for their personal gain. In the five Regions of Northern Ghana, over half of the youth population is illiterate and unemployed or underemployed and are therefore easily swayed by small monetary incentives to carry out destructive and even violent acts against parties other than their own around election time.
The NDF is therefore making a specific appeal to the youth in the five northern regions of Ghana not to allow themselves to be used by selfish and greedy politicians to cause disturbances or violence but rather play active roles as peace ambassadors and ensure a peaceful atmosphere during and after the December 7, 2020 elections. We have to work together for unity and development in our part of the country and not destroy the little that we have. It is for this reason that we condemn the violence that occurred recently in the Yagaba-Kubori Constituency, in the North East Region, between supporters of the two main political parties – the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). We therefore urge the Security Agencies to handle the matter with the serious that it deserves.
While addressing the message to the youth we equally appeal to politicians, religious and traditional leaders to speak and act positively and exhibit their commitment to ensure violence-free elections. They should refrain from engaging in or inciting any violent behaviour and respect other people’s views. The NDF commends the Catholic Relief Services, Caritas Ghana and other organisations that have offered training programmes that focused on the role of youth of Northern Ghana in promoting peaceful elections. It is our hope that as a result of these progammes we will experience little or no violence during and after the forthcoming elections in that part of the country in particular and Ghana as a whole.
Finally, we call on the Electoral Commission to put in place all the necessary measures that will ensure free, fair and transparent elections for the contestants to accept and respect the election results gracefully.
Signed: Major Albert Don-Chebe (Rtd) Chairman, Northern Development Forum
P/S: NDF is non-partisan advocacy Forum for the development of the five regions of the northern part of Ghana. For more information on NDF you may visit our website: www.ndfghana.org.
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;
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.
Collaboration with STAR Ghana Foundation to prepare Northern Ghana-specific issues for incorporation into the manifestos of political parties
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Collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Councils, STAR Ghana Foundation and TAMA Foundation to organize the 2 ND Northern Ghana Development Summit (‘Mole Series’).
Support for flood victims in the North East Region. Agenda for 2021
Follow up on manifesto promises of the ruling party to Northern Ghana.
Monitor progress on the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam.
Address educational and academic retrogression in Northern Ghana.
Collaboration with STAR Ghana Foundation to address conflict, security and stability.
Advocacy on punitive pricing of building materials in Northern Ghana.
Collaborate with Partners to organize the 3 rd Northern Ghana Development Summit (‘Mole Series’).
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.
NDF, Northern Development Forum
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.
The Northern Development Forum (NDF) would like to commend President Akufo Addo for his decisive and timely response to the global Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana. We see that the measures adopted are very necessary to safeguard citizens from this deadly attack.
Covid-19 has taken the world by storm. In military parlance, it is like the enemy launching a tactical attack that completely paralyzed the entire military response arsenal of the defense side of the belligerent forces. Comparatively, the Covid-19 attack or invasion of Africa and for that matter Ghana, is just beginning.
The NDF has observed thus far, that this pandemic has, once again, exposed the fragility and vulnerability of Ghanaians and in particular Northern Ghana. The most horrendous reports of human suffering as a result of the lockdown has been about the movement of KAYAYEE back home to their communities in the Northern part of the country. Even children were involved in this situation of misery. While we appreciate Government’s effort to mitigate the plight of the KAYAYEI, we wish to make the following observations and proposals:
1. All the five Regions in Northern Ghana have rather porous borders and the officials are few and ill equipped with resources. We therefore appeal for increased border vigilance, including the deployment of the military to augment the efforts of the Immigration Officials and the provision of adequate logistics.
2. It is quite worrying that there is no single approved centre for Covid-19 testing in the whole of Northern Ghana. We are aware of the two Research Centers in Navrongo and Kintampo and other Regional hospitals and wonder if these could not easily be upgraded to undertake testing for Covid-19. This would ease the national burden currently centered in Accra and Kumasi research centers and would enhance our effectiveness and efficiency in the national fight against the virus.
3. We call for fair and equitable distribution of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to Northern Ghana and other deprived Regions.
4. We have observed that socio-cultural practices and behaviours have a great potential to nullify the national effort at fighting the Covid-19. We call for a targeted support mechanism for Religious and Traditional Leaders in Northern Ghana to engage in systematic efforts at Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) on Covid-19 and public health in general to stem the devastating impact of the pandemic.
5. We have noted that, in anticipation of the lockdown of Accra and Kumasi, mass exodus of female head-porters called KAYAYEI, would occur. We know the dominant communities which these KAYAYEI returned. These include Tolon, Savelugu, Nasia, Wale Wale and Nyankpala. In this regard we are calling for comprehensive testing of these targeted communities that have received mass influx of KAYAYEE. This, we believe, will also improve the Government’s surveillance tracking for cases.
6. The NDF also note with particular appreciation the efforts that were made to restrain the Mass movement of some of the KAYAYEI back to Northern Ghana. We know that this is a very difficult decision to make in balancing individual fundamental rights with the promotion of the common good; especially that the fastest way of spreading this deadly disease is through human movement and contact.
7. We cannot talk about vulnerabilities without remembering some of the communities in Northern Ghana that were devastated by rainstorms, recently. We commiserate with the victims for the losses and harm that they have experienced.
We assure the President and Government of Ghana of our fullest cooperation and support in the common battle to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic.
