Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone (NSEZ) have pledged to ensure that, the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) succeed in its second attempt to champion poverty reduction in Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions. 

They made this pledge at a SEND-GHANA – SADA conference held in Tamale from 29th to 30th April 2015. The conference was aimed at strengthening SADA – Civil Society partnership, make the civil society sector in the SADA zone aware of the re-positioning strategies and exercises and mobilize CSOs and traditional authorities to contribute to SADA’s on-going re-positioning processes. 

In August 2014, the government appointed a new Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors of SADA. This new management team pledged to transform SADA into an effective, efficient, transparent and accountable development organization. 

SEND-GHANA’s new strategic plan (2014-2018), Making Ghana Work for Equity, prioritizes partnership with Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) to promote poverty reduction and build an inclusive and equitable Ghana. 

According to the organisation, this is key to promoting greater transparency and accountability in SADA programs and activities.

At the end of the conference, the participants issued a communiqué.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF SAVANNAH ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (SADA) – CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS (CSOs) CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE HELD IN TAMALE ON 29TH AND 30TH  APRIL 2015 AT MODERN CITY HOTEL UNDER THE THEME “THE ROLE OF CSO’S IN ACHIEVING SADA’S MANDATE”

INTRODUCTION:

Over eighty Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) participants drawn from the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) zone at a SADA – CSOs conference convened by SEND-GHANA in partnership with SADA hereby present this communiqué in acknowledgement that, there is the need for CSOs’ proactive contribution to complement government’s efforts in realising SADA’s mandate.  

We appreciate government’s efforts in reconstituting the SADA board and commend government for resolving to address the development needs of the NSEZ. 

We wish to state that, we have confidence and trust in the new SADA management and board and are prepared to partner with them to ensure transparency and accountability and to realise SADA’s mandate.

Despite the aforementioned acknowledgements, we the participants hereby resolve as follows;

Create a platform for information dissemination for rapid transformation of the SADA zone.

Commit to carry out participatory monitoring and evaluation of SADA programmes to ensure greater transparency and accountability.

Advocate for increased infrastructural development in the SADA zone.

Advocate for the passage of legislative instrument on the levy of non-petroleum imports for funding SADA.

CONCLUSION

We commend government for all the policy initiatives that have been introduced towards promoting the growth of the SADA zone and we pledge as Civil Society Organizations, to give our optimum support regarding the implementation of the SADA development agenda.