Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin(L) seated with Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga(R)
Correspondence from Northern Region
Members of the Northern Caucus of the 9th Parliament have pledged to ensure they put aside their political differences and push for the northern development agenda.
The MPs say they will put the development of the five regions constituting Northern Ghana ahead of any parochial political ideology or policy.
Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, disclosed this at the opening of the Northern Ghana Development Conference in Tamale on Monday, July 21.
“Elections are over and the people of the north are looking up to their leaders to use the power and opportunities given to them; NPP and NDC to lift them from poverty and give them opportunities for economic prosperity. This conference is about how to achieve that,” he said.
According to him, the Northern Caucus which is made up of 57 NDC and NPP MPs (including one Independent MP) from the Northern, Savannah, North East, Upper East and Upper West Regions, have resolved to put aside their partisan affiliations and work together to address the various challenges confronting Northern Ghana.
“As young people who have been bequeathed with the leadership of the north, we felt the need to put aside partisan affiliations and come together as one people to think through the challenges that confront our people and what we can do to address those challenges,” noted.
He added that “The objective of the Northern caucus is to set aside partisan differences and forge a common commitment to the northern course, to work together to achieve the objectives of the development of the north, to do whatever it takes to improve the conditions of our people, to leverage on our knowledge, experiences and networks to guide our regional ministers, MMDCEs, chiefs and our private sector to advance the economic development of the five regions.”
Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, outlined some of the area’s potentials, including agriculture, tourism and renewable energy, emphasising the need for more to be done to fully harness these potentials.
“With proper investment in modern farming methods, irrigation and agro processing, North cannot only ensure national food security but also become a major supplier of food to West Africa. Beyond agriculture, you have untapped potential in livestock, shea butter production, tourism and even renewable energy. Despite these vast potentials, we know the north has not yet fully benefited,” he said.
“The promise of this conference is to unearth the full diversity and potential of northern Ghana into real developmental outcomes,” the Minority Leader added.
Calls for establishment of Northern Development Fund
Former Minister of Defence and Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, called for the establishment of a Northern Development Fund that will support the rapid development of the area.
He said the fund, which will be started by the 57 MPs and pioneered by northerners, will be available to people to go to school and establish businesses.
The inaugural Northern Ghana Development Conference was on the theme “A conference of Northern People, Leaders and Partners” under the auspices of the Northern Caucus of Ghana’s 9th Parliament.
It was attended by Council of State members, chiefs and religious leaders from the five regions of the north, local and international development partners, among others.
