Accra, June 2, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday announced a conference between the Executive and the Donor Community to finalise the budget for Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) slated for June 23 to June 24 in Accra.

He said the meeting which would be held in Accra, would map out strategies for financial commitment from the government and the donor community towards the success of the project. Vice President Mahama made this known when Mr Peter Jones, British High Commissioner, who is beginning his first diplomatic duties to Africa, called on him at the Osu Castle. He acknowledged the support the United Kingdom through its Department for International Development had given to Ghana over the years, especially towards SADA. He said SADA was the catalyst that would offer development to the north and bridge the yawning gap between the northern and southern sectors. He said the development of the north was part of the intervention measures proposed by the African Peer Review Mechanism and government had no choice, but to ensure the total development of the area. The Vice President said the initial economic challenges that the current government faced had been surmounted and Ghana was poised for an accelerated development.

He mentioned some of the measures for development and economic acceleration as agricultural mechanisation, reconstruction of the road network and to curb the rural-urban drift. Vice President Mahama appealed to the people of the north to tackle environmental issues with the needed urgency to help stop the spread of desertification. Mr Jones promised to continue with the good works his predecessor Nicholas Westcot started, particularly lending support to development projects. He commended the government for the cordial bilateral relations over the years, promising to strengthen the diplomatic cord.