The Chairman of the Northern Development Forum (NDF), Dr Hakeem Wemah, has cautioned policy makers against downplaying the Savannah Accelerated Development Initiative. He noted that the initiative was a unique one and on no account should it be equated, compared or confused with existing development initiatives. Speaking at the opening of a four-day public forum on Northern Ghana Development in Tamale, Dr Wemah pointed out that “the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) is a unique response to a unique historical and political injustice perpetrated against the north hence it is unacceptable for anybody to relegate it to the background either by covert of overt subterfuge”. The forum was on the theme: “development effectiveness in Northern Ghana in the context of Ghana's Middle Income Status and Oil economy”. The participants discussed among other issues, the special development initiatives in Northern Ghana, accounting for Northern Ghana’s special situation in National Devel-opment Plans, accounting for Northern Ghana in national budgets, the role of non-governmental organisations in Northern Ghana’s Development, as well as peace and conflict transformation in Northern Ghana. The forum was organised jointly by the NDF, West African Network for Peace Building (WANEP), National Catholic Secretariat and the Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA). He said although some investors had shown keen interest in the SADA, they were yet to commit real resources to vital sectors in Northern Ghana. “I have written and talked about the rearing of guinea fowls as a means to impact positively on the lives of rural folks; the greening of the north also represents a radical paradigm shift but we shall continue to drum up support for SADA,” he stated. Dr Wemah said “the central theme of this forum is development effectiveness; it is about providing opportunities for all; it is about addressing the inequalities and outright lopsided development”. The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Kale Cezario said “I believe the north is not poor in terms of resources and opportunities; the issue is about management of our livelihoods and reduction of conflicts”.