Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has criticised the effectiveness of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), initiated by former President John Mahama’s development efforts for the north.
Dr. Bawumia questioned the tangible impact of SADA’s projects in the North, stating “there is very little John Mahama as president can show in the North, as far as development is concerned. Hundreds of millions of dollars were allocated, but where are the projects?”
Addressing a gathering of supporters and chiefs in Lambussie on Tuesday, 23 July, 2024 Dr. Bawumia highlighted the stark choice facing voters in this year’s historic election, a choice between two northern candidates: himself and Mahama.
He emphasised the significance of this electoral opportunity for the North, urging voters to consider who would best serve both theUpper West Region and the country.
Dr. Bawumia contrasted his track record with Mahama’s, noting that during the latter’s presidency, there was minimal visible progress in the North.
He criticised the SADA initiative, which was intended to drive northern development, pointing out the lack of notable projects in the Lambussie constituency and beyond.
“If you look at the vehicle that he produced to develop the northern parts of Ghana, SADA, you cannot point to a single project in Lambussie. We spent hundreds of millions of dollars, yet the results are invisible,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia also reviewed his own accomplishments, contrasting them with Mahama’s record. He cited the introduction and expansion of the Free Senior High School (SHS) education program, which has seen a dramatic increase in student enrollment from 800,000 to 1.4 million.
Dr. Bawumia emphasised that the northern regions have seen the greatest benefit from this initiative, with the top five regions in SHS enrollment being from the North.
Further, Dr. Bawumia defended his administration’s achievements, including the restoration of the teacher and nursing training allowances and the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
He highlighted the numerous social interventions and projects initiated by the current government, such as the Northern Development Authority’s 963 completed projects, and the agenda 111 initiative to build district hospitals in every district.
Dr. Bawumia also touched on technological advancements, noting the successful implementation of mobile money interoperability and the digitalization of medical records across Ghana’s hospitals.
He outlined plans for continued focus on agriculture, including the One Village, One Dam initiative and support for farmers through machinery and loans.
Dr. Bawumia reiterated his commitment to improving the standard of living in Ghana through innovative policies like individualized credit scoring. He assured the people that his administration would continue to prioritise development and address the needs of the people.
“Ultimately, we have a choice between two candidates. If we look at what has been achieved, it is clear that our administration has made significant progress. There is much more to be done, and I am committed to continuing this work for the benefit of all Ghanaians,” Dr. Bawumia stated.
