Bolgatanga, Dec. 7, GNA - The Chief Executive Officer of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), Alhaji Gilbert Iddi, has assured people of the three northern regions that SADA had come to stay.

“It would be implemented to the fullest to help bridge the yawning developmental gap between the north and the south,” he said.

Alhaji Iddi said this when he addressed a forum organised by the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) at Bolgatangay to brief them on what had been done so far with the implementation and opportunities that existed under SADA.

The forum, which was heavily attended, attracted the youth, assembly members, chiefs and elders, Civil Society Organizations among others from the Upper East Region.

Alhaji Iddi said SADA was passed by an Act of Parliament and could not be toyed with by any political party in power and had a gestation period of 20 to 25 years.

He said the implementation of SADA had begun and that as part of the implementation process, a business plan has been developed and accepted by donors.

Alhaji Iddi said SADA supported about 6,000 households in the northern regions who were affected by the last floods with inputs and technical knowledge to go into farming and that the support would be extended to other farmers in the area.

He said SADA had also embarked on Sustainable Housing Initiatives with the support of the UNDP where local materials are used for construction of houses and plans were far advanced to begin a programme where youth would be made to form groups and given contracts to execute.

The President of NORPRA, Mr Bismark Adongo said it was high time government demonstrated more commitment to bridging of the development gap between the north and south otherwise it could degenerate into conflict in future.

Participants called on SADA to ensure that the meat factory, rice mills including the Northern Star Factory are revamped and properly resourced to engage many of the youth in the region to reduce rural/urban migration.