President Mahama Appoints New SADA Board

President John Dramani Mahama has reconstituted the board of the heavily criticised Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, (SADA).

SADA will now be headed by corporate lawyer and former Deputy Chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mrs. Angelina Mornah Domakyaareh.

The list includes academic dons such as Professor Mariama Awumbila of the University of Ghana, Economist Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu and Dr. Grace Bediako from the National Development Planning Commission.

Also nominated to serve on the SADA Board are Naba Sigri Bewong, Mining Engineer and Traditional Ruler representing the traditional authorities, Wilbert Tengey representing civil society organisations, Dr. Samuel Ameyaw from the Ministry of Finance and banker Sulley Adam.

The list of Board members submitted to the Council of State for approval.

Head of Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Ben Dotsei Malor who signed the statement, said: 'The nominees will bring on board several years of experience in the areas of development, banking, corporate governance and law.'

'They are expected to refocus SADA's mandate towards its core business as stipulated by the SADA Act of 2010, ACT 805,' the statement added.

SADA is an independent agency for coordinating a comprehensive development agenda for the northern savannah ecological zone in Ghana.

The agency's main objective is to promote sustainable development using the notion of a forested and green north to catalyze climate change reversal and improve livelihoods of the most vulnerable citizens in the area.

The Agency has however come under severe scrutiny and criticism over the reported misappropriation of funds by management officials

Some have called for the total dissolution of SADA since according to them; it is not serving the sole purpose for which it was set up.

Last year, the President in a bid to restructure the Agency dismissed its Chief Executive, Alhaji Gilbert Iddi.

Subsequently, the President ordered the termination of certain contracts under SADA I consultation with the Attorney General.

The contract terminations affected the guinea fowl rearing; processing project and an afforestation and tree growing project.

Source: Myjoyonline