Mahama Ayariga, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, with other stakeholders
The Northern Parliamentary Caucus, has organised the First Northern Ghana Development Conference under the theme, “A Conference of Northern People, Leaders, and Partners,” in Tamale, Northern Region.
The conference aims to address the urgent and entrenched development challenges facing Northern Ghana while fostering strategic partnerships, legislative engagement, and a shared commitment to sustainable transformation.
The event brought together Members of Parliament from the five northern regions of Ghana, namely Savannah, North East, Northern, Upper West, and Upper East, representing both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a spirit of bipartisan collaboration.
Others are officials from the Office of the President, led by the Chief of Staff, paramount chiefs and traditional authorities, development partners and donor agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs), local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs), academia, private sector actors, youth and women’s organisations, media, and other stakeholders.
The conference reached a strong consensus on several key initiatives, including the adoption of a bipartisan commitment to northern development, the establishment of the Northern Ghana Development Coordination Platform (NGDCP), legislative action for the adoption of a 40-Year National Development Plan, full implementation of the Northern Ghana Master Plan, institutionalisation of the Annual Northern Ghana Development Conference, and the preparation and submission of a comprehensive report to Parliament and the Presidency.
Majority Leader of Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, urged northern parliamentarians to set aside partisan affiliations and unite for the development of the North.
“Let’s put aside partisan affiliation and come together as one people to think through the challenges confronting our communities and see what we can do to address those challenges,” he stated.
He expressed confidence in the 57 northern caucus parliamentarians, stressing that their rich experience and potential could drive accelerated transformation in the region.
Minority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, described Northern Ghana as a land of rich diversity and immense potential, with a cultural heritage that must be preserved and promoted for future generations.
He noted that Northern Ghana is the agricultural heartbeat of the country, accounting for 40% of Ghana’s agricultural land.
“Economically, the North has long been the agricultural heartbeat of our nation, with rich, fertile savannah lands and hardworking farmers who feed our nation and account for over 40% of Ghana’s agricultural land, making it the breadbasket of the country,” he stated.
He noted that with proper investment in modern farming practices, Ghana could become the food supplier for West Africa.
“With proper modern farming practices, the North cannot only ensure national food security but also become a major supplier of food to West Africa,” he added.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale