The outgoing head of USAID’s Mission to Ghana, James Beaver is asking the donor community to commit enough resources into the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).
In the past, SADA gained negative publicity due to alleged financial malfeasance which characterized the implementation of the guinea fowl and afforestation projects.
This according to SADA, discouraged some development partners especially the donor community from supporting SADA.
By way of fixing SADA’s reputational problem and to regain the trust of the donor community, President John Mahama appointed Charles Abugre as the Acting Chief Executive Officer.
The SADA board was also reconstituted and efforts are being made to revamp the programme.
These measures have accounted for the outgoing head of USAID’s Mission to Ghana, James Beaver’s call on the donor community to support SADA.
He expressed optimism on the current SADA management and Board to deliver on their mandate.
James Beaver made the call in Tamale at a cocktail party jointly organized by the Northern Regional Coordinating Council and SADA management to bid him farewell.
He reiterated the United States government’s continues support for the implementation of SADA and other pro-poor government projects.
He emphasized the need for peaceful coexistence to attract multinationals to the Northern Region.
“Friends of Ghana are attracted to good leadership: we want to be there with you because we have so much in common and we have common interests which include peace, stability and prosperity which keep us all resilient.”
Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna extolled James Beaver for his immense contribution to the development of the Northern Savannah Ecological zone.
“USAIDs supported programmes are located in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone and have physical office presence in Tamale and the bulk of the resources are shifting in this direction: there is the Fingap, Resilience, Balance, Result and other Feed the Future related projects, add to this GCAP and support for the health sector among others.”
Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna stressed, “Perhaps the biggest support to the Northern Region and the SADA zone is not only money and projects but leadership in guiding international development community to prioritize the north: leadership in encouraging that those of us in political and administrative responsibility take leadership in shaping our priorities and guiding the operations of development partners in our region. Leadership in steering the heads of Cooperation in Ghana to agree to meet in Tamale and leadership in demonstrating faith in SADA-that supporting the new leadership of SADA to turn the organization around is the right thing to do.”
He said James Beaver was leaving a remarkable footprint in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone.
James Beaver was decorated with a white smock and its hat as well as some traditional leather pillows.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana