The flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Akufo-Addo, has outlined his vision and strategies or the accelerated development of the north, with a pledge to utilise the long stretches of flat arable lands for big time farming ventures. At the maiden forum for presidential hopefuls organised by the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale, last Friday, he said that under his leadership construction of irrigation facilities, dams and silos would be given priority to ensure all year round farming as well as a reduction in post-harvest losses. Nana Akufo-Addo described the existing development gap between the north and the southern parts of the country as a chasm, noting that, "it is blight on the honour of our nation that must shame and then spur us all into action." "In our life time, the north must become a place of work, the engine of our transformation, a place that will attract the talented and hardworking, with dreams in their hearts, desirous of making fortunes, careers and reputation," he indicated. The presidential aspirant therefore spelt out five thematic sectors under which his government would transform the north into an area of hope, jobs and wealth creation. He mentioned agriculture, health, infrastructure, education and tourism development, stressing that, "we must make a concerted effort to eliminate our dependence on NGOs and aid agencies of friendly governments to do work which we should be doing ourselves" Nana Akufo-Addo said. He said such resources would be complemented by access to finance, the provision of high yielding seeds, establishment of co-operatives to promote marketing and the resolution of common problems. "These, together with tax-credits and the assistance of the government in finding markets for value-added products will spur the development of agro-processing plants all over the northern regions," the flag bearer stated. Nana Akufo-Addo also expressed worry over the health situation in the north, and revealed that, in 2003, the three northern regions had only 25 of the nation's 286 hospitals, thus, constituting 8.7 per cent of the country's hospitals for a population that constitute 18 per cent of the entire nation. He however acknowledged the significant efforts the government had made in that direction and pledged to continue with such laudable programmes and also rehabilitate, expand and modernise the Tamale Teaching Hospital and the DDS Medical School. On infrastructural development, the presidential hopeful promised to construct at least 13,000 units of decent, affordable housing units across the length and breadth of the north "within the first two years of my administration." "Within the next five years, as part of the transformation that we seek, I am committed to the construction and asphalting of the 151 km Fufroso-Sawla road, the 154 km Tamale-Salaga-Makango road of which 61 km is already done and the 74 km Chuchuliga-Sissala-Tumu road, among others" he stated. Nana Akufo-Addo further pledged to upgrade the Tamale airport to a modern international piece, construct an inland port at Buipe and also link up the north with the south through the railway. "Our goal is to build a comprehensive transportation network to provide both interregional and international linkages within Ghana and between neighbouring countries," he explained. According to the flag bearer, education would also be a top priority for his government as he would extend free education to senior high schools at an initial extra-cost of about GH one million cedis annually, extend the school feeding and capitation grants to all schools and improve on conditions of teachers. He said public universities would be constructed in regions that had none while existing ones would be upgraded, assuring that, "my government will commit to providing for every district a modern library complex, with facilities to assist those engaged in distance learning." On tourism, Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that tourists sites in the north would be upgraded to meet international standards to attract people from within and outside the country, while creating avenues for the private sector to invest in that area. To attain his vision of transforming the north, the presidential hopeful indicated that his government would establish a $l billion Northern Development Fund through the setting up of a Northern Development Authority by an Act of Parliament to administer the fund under a board of directors. "It is estimated that the expenditure of the $ l billion, properly leveraged, will attract another $4 billion from private sources, such as from global hedge and private equity funds and Chinese and Gulf State funds all for the development of the north and the country," he explained. The forum, themed "transformation of the north, an agenda for big change," attracted a large crowd that included the academia, the general public and party loyalists at the UDS Tamale campus. The other candidates are billed to appear at a later date. Source: Daily Graphic