Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), a civil Society group advocating for equity and social justice, has commended President John Atta Mills for re-affirming his commitment to the development of the three northern regions.
In a release issued at Bolgatanga on Friday, the group said the setting up of the Savannah Development Authority (SADA) as mentioned by the President in his maiden State-of-the-Nation address, would help bridge the development gap between the North and the South.
The release, signed by NORPRA President Bismark Ayorogo Adongo, recalled campaign promises made by President Mills in the run up to the 2008 elections, as well as provisions in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto, to prioritise the three northern regions and appealed for the fulfilment of those pledges.
Among other pledges, the NDC manifesto indicates that it would commission the development of a "master plan" for Northern Ghana's development alongside the establishment of a special development fund for SADA with GH¢200 million seed money and an annual contribution of GH¢100 million over 20 years.
NORPRA also commended President Mills for mentioning in his address his government's intention to review the school feeding programme to ensure that the needy benefit from it.
The group noted that the current procedure for the programme was not the best, saying it was rather the most endowed districts that were benefiting, instead of the needy.