Three Eminent Chiefs in the Northern Region have called on the Northern Development Authority (NDA) to undertake needs assessment in communities before they under take projects in order to give the communities what they truly want.

The Chiefs have also given their blessings to the NDA to carry its work in the area.

The chiefs raised these concerns when the Chief Executive Officer and the Northern Regional Minister led a delegation to pay a courtesy call on them at the Gbewa Palace, Mion Lana Palace and the Yoo Naa’s Palace.

At the Gbewa Palace the overlord of Dagbon Yaa Naa Abubakari Mahama II admonished the CEO of the NDA, Dr Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya to be weary of persons who would want to use his name in order to achieve their selfish interests.

He said his doors are open to receive the NDA anytime the need arises, “my phones are always active even at 2AM when you call I will be available,” he told the team.

The Yaa Naa advised the CEO to take his duties very seriously and not involved himself in deals that would bring his name into disrepute, adding that he must exhibit good leadership at work.

The Mion Lana, Abdulai Mahamadu also thanked the President Nana Akuffo Addo for choosing a son of the soil to head the NDA, urging Dr Anamzoya to stay focus at all time. He prayed for peace and tranquility in the region and the nation at large.

Speaking at his palace the Yoo Naa, Yakubu Andani Abdulai reiterated the need for the Northern Development Authority to undertake needs assessment in communities they want to put up projects. He appealed to the NDA to come to the aid of one of the schools in the area he said was overcrowded.

The Yoo Naa also appealed for water in the area adding that water and sanitation is very important for all

The Chief Executive Officer of the NDA in his response said even before his assumption of office, the Authority conducted the necessary needs assessment of all the 2,149 developmental projects being carried out across the five regions of the north.

He said the Northern Region alone is benefiting from about 546 projects which include schools, health centers, roads, rural electrification among others.

The CEO expressed his gratitude to the President for making him head of the Authority. He also thanked the president for restoring the long lost peace in Dagbon.

Dr Anmazooya said without peace the Authority would not have attained the achievement they have in recent times.

The Northern Regional Minister Salifu Saeed on his part said the NDA should initiate projects that are in line with the vision of the overlord.

This he said will ensure a holistic development in Dagbon and the nation as a whole.

“The authority will look out to see how to identify their priority needs so that it will complement what the traditional authorities are doing”. Mr Saeed said.

The Minister said with the support of the board, the CEO would execute the projects to the satisfaction of the people, "so that it will be a participatory leadership being used in the execution of these developmental projects.”