Following the growing regional disparities in economic prosperity in Ghana, the Mole Series rebranded as Northern Ghana Development Summit has been revived.

It is to serve as a critical reminder to successive governments to fulfil their campaign promises to the people of Northern Ghana.

STARGhana Foundation and its allies masterminded it under the theme: "Accelerating the Sustainable Development of Northern Ghana in the Context of Peace, Security and Ghana Beyond Aid."

At the opening ceremony held at the University for Development Studies (UDS) Tamale City campus, Dungu, Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia bemoaned the unequal distribution of national resources in the past and promised a paradigm shift.

He said government's inclusive national transformation agenda was in the right direction.

He urged the participants to come out with permanent solutions to the myriad development challenges stagnating Northern Ghana's socioeconomic growth.

"The deliberations should come out with comprehensive ideas, plans and programmes to drive national development."

He reiterated the need for peace in Chereponi and thus charged the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary to fast track the prosecution of troublemakers.

Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia said government was committed to improve the health and education needs of the people of the north.

He said much attention would be attached to the newly created regions.

He commended the development partners for their continued support to the development of the north.

NDA CEO

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO)) of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Alhaji Dr. Majeed Haroun reechoed the need for sustainable peace within the Savannah Ecological Zone.

"We need peace across the region for transformational change. We need collaborative efforts to solve our nagging development challenges."

He requested for the NDA's takeover of the Volta Lake to use it as a development conduit.

"We want to enter into the global economy and the potentials are abound in Northern Ghana."

According to him, the NDA needed enough resources to implement its pilot projects in line with the Ghana beyond aid agenda.

Alhaji Haroun Majeed gave the assurance that the NDA would take charge of the Conference to achieve the purpose of its revival.



UDS Vice Chancellor

Vice Chancellor of the University Development Studies, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye promised that, "We will continue to produce the needed human resource capital for nation building."

He stressed the importance of Sustainable peace in the north to achieve the nation's sustainable development goals.

He made a request for the setting up of an Endowment Fund to enable the UDS promote research and support needy people.

The Conference was spearheaded by all Regional Coordinating Councils in Northern Ghana in partnership with the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Care International and the USAID among other development partners.

Genesis of the Mole Series Summit

The revived Mole Series was the biggest Multi-Stakeholder annual platform in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in Ghana.

The Platform, named after the venue of the maiden edition,
Mole in the Northern Region of Ghana used to be organised by the Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS).

It created the opportunity for participants from Non Governmental Organizations, Government, Private Operators, Networks, Community Based Organizations and Civil Society Organizations to dialogue, learn and share information on specific issues that affect Northern Ghana's development.