Tamale, Nov. 14, GNA - A National Democratic Congress (NDC) government would establish a Savannah Accelerated Authority (SDA) for the development of the three Northern Regions. Professor John Evans Attah Mills, Presidential candidate of the NDC announced this at a well-attended rally in Tamale on Thursday where both the incumbent and aspiring parliamentary candidates of the party were introduced to the electorate. Professor Mills said under the Authority, there would be a massive infrastructure development, which would include the upgrading of the Tamale Airport to facilitate the airlifting of Hajj pilgrims to Mecca and the upgrading of the Tamale Hospital to a first class teaching hospital.

Road infrastructure in the three northern regions would also be improved upon while the eastern and western corridors, as well as the Wa and Tumu roads would be asphalted to open up the area. The NDC flag bearer said a government under his leadership would revamp the shea nut industry, while a factory would be built to process 50,000 tonnes of the produce annually. The farmers would also be provided with protective clothing against snake bites Prof Mills said an NDC government would re-introduce the Youth in Agriculture Programme and establish a government agency to purchase the produce of the farmers in times of bumper harvest for sale to the people during the lean period.

Professor Mills said more basic schools would be built in the three northern regions, while free textbooks and other educational materials, as well as school uniforms would be provided to the pupils. He said at the Senior High School (SHS) level, more schools would be constructed and the government would place emphasis on the teaching of Information Communication Technology (ICT). The NDC flag bearer urged supporters of the party to be vigilant on the Election Day and go out in their numbers to vote the NDC into power.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, NDC National Youth Organsier, said the party was poised to win 10 additional parliamentary seats in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions in the general election. He said Professor Mills was going to win a landslide victory and urged the youth to avoid violence.

He also called on the security agencies to protect the electorate from any intimidation during voting. Mr. Johnson Aseidu-Nketiah, General Secretary of the party, said the peace the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was preaching was one of "uneasy calm", which was unacceptable because the NDC wanted peace with justice. 14 Nov. 08