Cabinet Approves SADA

The Minister for Information has confirmed Cabinet�s approval for the establishment of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), adding that the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice is preparing a Bill to be submitted to parliament. Cabinet also decided that in pursuing the objectives of SADA, the Ministry of Women and Children�s Affairs should be immediately included in the development of programmes. President John Atta Mills announced plans to establish the SADA in his first state of the nation address to parliament. �My administration will this year establish the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) as a more holistic development agency to harness the development of the three northern regions and districts in the Brong Ahafo and Volta Regions contiguous to Northern Regions�, President Mills promised. Since then, various consultative processes and working sessions have taken place under the leadership of the Vice President John Dramani Mahama to prepare the broad policy framework and benefits of the SADA. The President has also appointed a Development Policy Advisor in the person of Dr Sulley Gariba. The minister explained that SADA would not only be a mechanism for scaling up development in the selected areas but would also help transform agriculture by enhancing infrastructure development and promoting agri-business.