Northern Caucus of Parliament holds development conference in Tamale

Members of the Northern Caucus of Parliament have convened the first Northern Ghana Development Conference to strategise towards addressing the long-standing development challenges facing the northern part of Ghana.

It was to foster bi-partisan unity and commitment towards practical solutions for the area’s development needs.

The conference, held on the theme: “A Conference of Northern People, Leaders and Partners,” was spearheaded by the 9th Parliament of Ghana in collaboration with the Northern Development Authority (NDA) and other key development partners and had Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, North East, and Savannah Regions participating.

It also attracted other political leaders, traditional rulers, and civil society actors from across the five regions to harness innovative ideas, forge partnerships, and mobilise resources toward transforming the north.

Notable dignitaries at the conference included Mr Mahama Ayariga, the Majority Leader in Parliament, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Minority Leader in Parliament, Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, MP for Bimbilla Constituency, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education, Naa Mahamadu V, the Paramount Chief of Nanton, and Naa Alhassan Andani, Paramount Chief of Pishigu.

Mr Ayariga, underscored the importance of the conference saying it was to set aside partisan differences and build a collective commitment to the northern development agenda.

“We have chosen to unite in a bipartisan way to embark on this mission to improve the livelihoods of our people especially when the sitting President hails from the north,” he said.

He said the platform would enable MPs to leverage their experience, networks, and influence to support regional ministers, local assemblies, traditional leaders, and the private sector in advancing the socio-economic transformation of the north.

Mr Ayariga emphasised the importance of ensuring that government programmes in key sectors such as education, health, water, electricity, and infrastructure were implemented effectively to serve public interest.

Naa Alhassan Andani, the Paramount Chief of the Pishigu Traditional Area, called for a comprehensive national development plan that incorporated the aspirations of the Northern Caucus and promoted equitable distribution of national resources.

He emphasised that peace was a critical foundation for progress and urged the youth to avoid violence and criminal activities that could derail the region’s development agenda.

He also encouraged young people to prioritise skills acquisition to enhance employment opportunities and support the government’s efforts to tackle issues of unemployment.

Mr Julius Debrah, who represented President John Dramani Mahama, commended the Northern Caucus for the initiative describing it as a timely response, which aligned with the government’s commitment to national development.

Source: GNA