The traders were reportedly attacked and killed by terrorists in Burkina Faso, an incident that has sent shockwaves across Ghana and reignited concerns about cross-border security.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Agalga stressed the urgent need for enhanced collaboration between Ghana and Burkina Faso to combat terrorism and protect citizens engaged in cross-border trade.

He noted that violent extremism in the Sahel continues to pose a significant threat to neighbouring countries, including Ghana.

The tragic incident has also sparked a heated debate in Parliament.

Members of the Minority caucus blamed President Mahama’s government for what they described as weak diplomatic engagement with Burkina Faso counterparts.

They argued that Ghana’s relationship with its northern neighbour has been complicated by the current military regime in Burkina Faso, which they described as illegitimate.

According to the Minority, the nature of the regime in Ouagadougou has strained diplomatic ties and may be undermining effective security cooperation between the two countries.

They called on the government to reassess its diplomatic approach to ensure the safety of Ghanaian nationals living and doing business abroad.

However, Mr. Agalga emphasized that regardless of political developments in Burkina Faso, Ghana must prioritize practical security cooperation to address the shared threat of terrorism. He underscored the importance of intelligence sharing, joint security operations, and sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent further attacks.

The killing of the eight traders has heightened public concern about the safety of Ghanaians operating in conflict-prone areas within the sub-region, with calls mounting for decisive government action to safeguard lives and strengthen border security.

Authorities are yet to provide full details of the attack, but security agencies are said to be monitoring developments closely as diplomatic efforts continue between the two neighbouring countries.

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The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has officially introduced its newly constituted Board of Directors to staff at a ceremony held at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.

The introduction followed a closed-door meeting between the new Board and the Heads of Department, as well as representatives of the GACL’s staff unions.

Welcoming the Board, the Managing Director of GACL, Mrs. Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare, lauded the company’s recent strategic gains, highlighting key infrastructural projects that are expected to boost operational efficiency and enhance passenger experience.

These include the ongoing repurposing of Terminal 2 to handle both international and domestic traffic and the resurfacing of the 30-year-old main runway at Kotoka International Airport.

Mrs. Opare described the achievements as the result of a “collective effort” between management and staff, and pledged her commitment to working closely with the Board to advance the government’s vision of positioning Ghana as a premier aviation hub in the sub-region.

Board Chairman and Member of Parliament for Builsa North, James Agalga, expressed appreciation for the warm reception and praised the staff for their resilience, particularly in navigating the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He reiterated the Board’s commitment to supporting the government’s aviation agenda, which he said was anchored on infrastructure development, operational excellence and regional competitiveness.

“The strategic importance of Ghana’s aviation sector cannot be overstated,” Mr Agalga said. “With the right leadership, policy alignment, and stakeholder commitment, GACL can become a cornerstone of West Africa’s connectivity and trade facilitation.”

The Board Chair also commended the company’s return to profitability and urged staff to remain focused and unified in delivering long-term value.

Full list of GACL Board Members:

• James Agalga – Chairman, MP for Builsa North
• Attah Issah – MP for Sagnarigu Constituency
• William Ntebe Ayo – MP for Tatale-Sanguli Constituency
• Mr. Mark William Attipoe – Representative, Ministry of Transport
• Mr. Kwabena Amponsah Dapaah – Fellow, Ghana Institution of Surveyors
• Ms. Diana Amakie Ashong – Business Executive
• Mrs. Yvonne Nana Afriyie Opare – Managing Director, GACL
• Air Commodore Elvis King Arneson – Representative, Ghana Air Force
• Mr. Joseph Enimil-Armah

The reconstituted Board is expected to play a pivotal role in driving GACL’s transformation agenda, deepening operational resilience, and attracting private sector investment to enhance Ghana’s aviation competitiveness in the region.

Chairman of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, James Agalga, has accused Rev. John Ntim Fordjour of fabricating the controversial allegations of two aircraft being involved in drugs and money laundering which have dominated recent political discussions.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, April 12, Mr Agalga criticised the Assin South MP for what he described as a reckless and malicious attempt to tarnish the image of the State.

Mr Agalga questioned the motives behind Ntim Fordjour’s actions, particularly his decision to bypass official security channels in favour of a public press release.

“If your Ranking Member was not being malicious, why was he ranting against the security agencies instead of assisting them to probe the matter?” he asked.

He further asserted that Ntim Fordjour lacked the necessary facts to support his claims and had simply constructed a false narrative to fuel public suspicion.

“He didn’t have his facts right and he was being malicious. He sat down and concocted the story and threw it against the state,” Mr Agalga stated firmly.

The comments come amid rising tensions over the role of security agencies and concerns about political interference in national security matters.

Mr Agalga emphasised the need for parliamentary leaders to act responsibly and not compromise the integrity of state institutions for political gain.

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He revealed that the revered monarch has already engaged both sides of the conflict in dialogue aimed at finding a lasting solution.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, 12 April, Mr Agalga called on the people of Bawku to cooperate with the peace process and give it a chance to yield positive results.

According to him, the Asantehene’s involvement is a vital step towards achieving reconciliation and long-term stability in the troubled area.

“So I can reveal that Otumfuo has done some work on the Bawku crisis and has met the two sides,” Agalga stated. “So I can only appeal to them to allow the peace process to proceed.”

Mr Agalga’s remarks come amidst heightened tensions in the Bawku enclave, where violent clashes have strained security efforts.

His appeal adds to the growing chorus of voices urging restraint and cooperation from residents, as key traditional and political stakeholders work behind the scenes to broker peace.

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This accusation follows a severe drought affecting the northern regions of the country.

On Monday, August 26, the government announced an immediate ban on grain exports, with Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul stating that military personnel had been deployed to enforce the ban at the country’s borders.

However, the Minority has raised concerns about the government’s true intentions, alleging that the deployment is a ploy to suppress votes.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Friday, Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, James Agalga, stated, “If they have no ulterior motives, then they ought to have given us timelines. The fact that there are no timelines gives us reason to suspect that they only used the crisis, related to the drought up north and the potential for us to have some food security challenges, to deploy the military to intimidate voters.”

“Otherwise, there should be timelines. We further backed our assertions with what happened in the lead-up to the 2020 elections…So our suspicions are justifiable.”

Source: Adomonline

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In this regard, the Ranking Member and Builsa North MP, James Agalga has appealed to the Speaker of Parliament to, as a matter of urgency, help get the report presented by next week Tuesday.

“Mr Speaker that report is ready and before we went on recess it was listed as one of the papers to be presented for the consideration of the House.

“Now given the public interest character of that report, Mr Speaker, I want to use this medium to appeal to you to direct the business committee to list, as a matter of urgent importance, that particular report for us to deal with as a matter of urgency starting from next Tuesday,” Mr Agalga noted in Parliament on Friday.

Mr Agalga who is also the Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee has lamented the delay has given room for unhealthy speculations.

“Because this thing (report) has been on the ice, it has given room for all manner of speculation about the report, so it’s high time we bring closure to that report,” he added.

The committee chaired by Abuakwa South MP, Samuel Atta Akyea was tasked to investigate the leaked audio in which some senior officers were heard in a conversation with former Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP Chief Bugri Naabu plotting the removal of the IGP, Dr George Akuffo Dampare.

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This follows concerns raised by civil society groups and the Small-Scale Miners Association.

They argued that, the office of a Member of Parliament should not be occupied by someone who incites attacks on uniformed men.

In an interview on Joy FM’s Newsnite on Monday, June 10, James Agalga, who is also MP for Builsa North noted that Mr Frimpong had engaged in previous conduct that, when combined with this incident, makes him unbecoming of a potential Member of Parliament.

“I share the view earlier expressed by some concerned citizens that he should be apprehended immediately,” he said.

The lawmaker’s comments come after the Amenfi East NPP parliamentary candidate was seen in a viral video inciting illegal miners in the area to continue with their activity and also defend themselves against any attack from military personnel in the area.

However, Mr Frimpong, in his defence, admitted to being the person in the video but refuted engaging with illegal miners, stating that he was speaking to miners in the community.

Mr Agalga asserted that, it is shameful to incite people to attack the military.

He added, “Mr Frimpong should bow his head in shame. I think he should be apologising to Ghanaians rather than making this attempt to defend this unfortunate statement he made.”

“Even if it is true that the military and police embark upon unauthorised operations in his constituency, what are they supposed to do? Or, as a candidate on the ruling party’s ticket, why wouldn’t he complain with the regional police command or district police command?” he questioned.

Mr Agalga further criticised the conduct of the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, describing it as “unfortunate.”

According to him, the minister should have called for Mr Frimpong’s arrest.

He also indicated that the Western Regional Minister “should spearhead the arrest and possible prosecution of Mr Frimpong since he is a witness in the matter.”

Meanwhile, Mr Frimpong has retracted his comment. He, however, expressed the view that his comment was taken out of context.

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According to the Builsa North MP, recruitment processes are done per financial clearance for a specific year and do not exceed into another.

His comment comes after the Minority, led by its leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson had alleged that, the government had given 20 slots to NPP parliamentary candidates to get people into the various security services and intelligence agencies.

However, Interior Minister, Henry Quartey dismissed the allegation, stating they were false.

He said that even though there were plans for recruitment, the target was persons who had previously applied for jobs in the security and intelligence agencies but were not selected and are still desirous of being recruited.

This, the Ayawaso Central MP described as the clearing of backlogs, adding it would be  inconsiderate for the government to still advertise and sell forms to people, knowing that there was limited space.

However, Mr Agalga on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem Tuesday, questioned the basis for backlog, insisting it is a secret recruitment of NPP members into the services.

“There’s nothing backlog; it is just the creation of the NPP government. They should stop acting in secrecy. Recruitment are always advertised for eligible Ghanaians to apply, so what is this backlog they are talking about.

If people are unable to meet the requirement for a specific year and the process elapse, you can’t go back to that same year with the claims of clearing backlog,” he stated.

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Listen to Mr Agalga in the audio above:

This is according to the Upper East regional NDC Caucus in Parliament.

Speaking at the Regional Delegates Congress at the Bolgatanga Technical University, the leader of the Caucus and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, reiterated the need for the people who have been elected to competently manage the affairs of the party for the next four years.

The Builsa North MP said the ultimate goal of the NDC’s internal election is for the new executives, together with the party, to become victorious in the 2024 general election.

Mr Agalga noted that their caucus is ready to work tirelessly with new executives to retain all 14 seats and take the Binduri seat which is currently occupied by the governing NPP.

“What this exercise is intended to achieve is to select leaders to lead the charge to victory come 2024. Our appeal to you is that, people who would emerge victorious should not jubilate too much, you have to form unity with those who would lose.

“The message we have for you is that, as for us, the parliamentary caucus, we are ready and we have never relented on our efforts to continue supporting our party. In such a way that, come 2024 we retain all the 14 seats that we won and to recapture the Binduri seat,” he said.

The Caucus Leader, who is also the Ranking Member on Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior, believes the hardship Ghanaians are going through is due to corruption and mismanagement of the Akufo-Addo led government the reason NDC must rescue the country.

Below are the results of the NDC election in the Upper East Region:

NDC DECIDES UER 2022- RESULTS

Unopposed Positions

Regional Chairman – Mr. Alhaji Abdulai Bolnaba

Organize – Mr. Ibrahim Mutawakilu

Treasure – Mr. Fidelis Aguwine

Deputy Secretary – Ms. Ophelia Atoklo

Deputy Treasure – Anachinaba Teni Monica.

Secretary

Mr. Donatus Akamukri – 300 winner

Mr. Thomas Abiola – 186

Youth Organiser

Mr. Abraham Lambon – 27 winner

Anolga David – 24

Awuni Ben – 7

Deputy Youth Organize

Joseph Apuakasi – 21 winner

Samari Samson – 20

Musah Saani – 17

Communication Officer

Jonathan Abdallah Salifu – 264 winner

Sunday Caspar Kampoli – 198

Saeed Ahmed Tijani – 26

Women Organizer

Yakubu Abagnama Fawzia – 28 winner

Rahinatu Haruna – 17

Vice Chairman

Marthin Adawe Azupwah-64

Abubakari Atongo Salifu -131 First

Gariba Bawa Adams -40

Issaka Haruna -108 Second

Akasoba Clement Anabire – 104

Akanyele Williams – 40

Deputy Organiser

Muntari Amidu – 191

John Assibi Nyaaba – 297 winner

Deputy Women Organiser

Grace Nkaw Awini – 13 second Deputy

Monica Bakiva – 12

Musah Mariama Anatia – 15 winner

Awulpwa Agnes – 4

Zongo Caucus Coordinator

Labaran Zakari Kassim- 103

Alhaji Hudu Yahaya Bogobire – 188

Salifu Alukuba – 196 winner

Deputy Communication Officer

Issah Tanimu – 32

Benjamin Atuasi – 240 winner

Rufai Zubeiru – 215

According to him, the move will prevent the infiltration of terrorists.

“There is every cause for alarm because I worry that if care is not taken terrorists will take advantage of those who genuinely need help and are fleeing Burkina Faso to infiltrate.

“And when they do, it will be difficult for our security agencies to look out for these people and ensure that they do not wreak havoc for this country,” he told JoyNews on Monday.

Some thousands of Burkinabes reportedly fled their country last week, following gun attacks which have left some persons dead.

The foreigners sought refuge in communities including Bansi, Mognori, Sapeliga, Kutanga and Yarigungu in the Binduri, Bawku municipality and Bawku West district.

The Refugee Board has since dispatched a team to the area to assess the situation.

However, Mr Agalga believes government must do more to tighten security.

“It is a serious problem,” he emphasised.

The Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, James Agalga, said given that the deceased did not die while being held in police custody, he believes the police are trying to cover up the matter which has since led to tensions in Nkoranza in the Bono East Region.

According to him, a parliamentary probe will be critical in unravelling the truth of the matter and helping to restore calm in the area.

“The report clearly does not speak to the fact that Albert Donkor died in police custody and for me, that is the beginning of the cover-up, and I am not amused at all. We will take steps to file yet another motion,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Nkoranza South Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Agyekum is worried about the increasing cases of the Ghana Police Service killing citizens suspected to have engaged in one crime or the other without due legal process.

He feared the practice of extrajudicial killings is gradually becoming a norm in the country.

Two persons have died in Nkoranza, alleged to have been killed by police officers.

The first, Albert Donkor is said to have been killed by some police officers who picked him up last week in a private vehicle after he mentioned among friends that he had seen a police officer involved in a robbery incident.

A student, Victor Kwadwo Owusu was also allegedly killed by police while the youth of Nkoranza were protesting over the alleged killing of Albert Donkor.

James Agalga noted that “the police cannot investigate themselves in a matter like this.”

“I think an independent body should be charged to do this investigation, set up by either the President or Parliament.”

He told Evans Mensah on Joy FM’s ‘Top Story’ Friday that, the disproportionate use of force against unarmed civilians by police and military officers is problematic.

Mr Algaga was emphatic that Inspector-General of Police (IGP), James Boanuh, has employed delay tactics in addressing the nation on the role of the police in the electoral violence.

“The IGP has failed the country. The National Election Security Task Force has failed us.

“Those civilians were in full retreat after the police fired warning shots. On what basis did they target at them and fired large ammunitions?” he quizzed.

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Meanwhile, the Police Service has dismissed all allegations of brutality against Ghanaian electorate in the election.

In a press conference held by the Police Friday, Director-General for the Criminal Investigations Department, Kenney Boah, noted that a gun was fired during the collation of votes at Techiman after New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters took to the streets to jubilate, which resulted in a clash between the NPP and NDC supporters.

“In response, the security personnel fired warning shots to dissolve the riot,” he added.

James Agalga, also the Ranking Member, Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament said that arrangement cannot be made because, the NDA is a statutory body set up under an Act of Parliament with a clear cut mandate.

In a statement copied to Adomonline.com, Mr Agalga cited a news report which referred to the NPP Parliamentary candidate for the Bole-Bamboi, Dabid Sei Demah, who claimed the construction of market stores, three unit classroom blocks, and a clinic were being funded by the Authority.

Mr Agalga said if it is established that the NDA has allowed itself to be used as a tool to shore up the political fortunes of the NPP by lending support to NPP parliamentary candidates, rather than implementing its own strategic goals carefully developed through comprehensive needs assessments carried out in the Constituencies that make up the Northern Development Zone, then the hour for accountability is fast approaching.

Read the full article below:

STOP THE WANTON POLITICISATION OF THE EXECUTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE POVERTY ERADICATION PROJECTS (IPEP) UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

My attention has been drawn to the rather bizarre claim by parliamentary candidates of the NPP in the Northern Development Zone of having lobbied the Northern Developmental Authority (NDA) to undertake all constituency specific projects in the Constituencies that fall under the jurisdiction of the NDA. For instance, on the 9^th April, 2020, it was reported on Ghanaweb that a certain Dabid Sei Demah, an NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency cut sod for the construction of market stores, three unit classroom blocks, and a clinic with funding from the Northern Development Authority. When pushed for clarification on the nature of the projects he had just cut sod for works to commence and the funding sources, Dabid Sei Demah is quoted as having confessed that the projects were being executed under the One Constituency per One Million dollars policy. He further stated that the president had converted the One Million dollars into projects “which were not being channelled through NPP parliamentary candidates”.

Similarly, on the 18^th April, 2020, it was reported on Builsa Radio Social Media Platform that a site had been handed over to a construction firm to construct a two storey building along the Sandema-Seniensi road which upon completion will serve as a nursing training college. The report indicated further that other sites had been handed over for the construction of a police station and quarters in Chuchuliga and a children’s ward at the St Lucas hospital in Wiaga amongst others. At the tail end of the report, the DCE for Builsa North is reported to have singled out the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Builsa North Constituency, one James Abakisi for praise for having lobbied the Northern Development Authority for the projects mentioned above

From the outset, it is important to state that the Northern Development authority is a statutory body set up under an Act of Parliament with a clear cut mandate. It is therefore not an appendage to any political party including the NPP. Consequently, If it is established that the Northern Development Authority has allowed itself to be used as a tool to shore up the political fortunes of the NPP by lending support to NPP Parliamentary Candidates rather than implementing its own strategic goals carefully developed through comprehensive needs assessments, carried out in the Constituencies that make up the Northern Development Zone, then the hour for accountability is fast approaching.

The object of this short paper is to critically analyse relevant provisions of the Northern Development Authority Act, 2017 (Act 963) in order to establish the real mandate of the Authority and its functions. Reference will also be made to the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2020 – 2023 of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives Programme Based Budget Estimates for 2020 in order to demonstrate that all projects being executed by the Northern Development Authority are projects captured in its needs assessment reports which were subsequently approved by parliament in the budget estimates.
As indicated above, the Northern Development Authority was established by the Northern Development Authority Act, 2017, (Act 963) by the Parliament of Ghana in 2017 and Assented to by the President on the 2^nd day of January, 2018.

The Northern Development Authority Act, 2017 (Act 963) repealed the Savanna Accelerated Development Authority Act, 2010 (Act 305) which gave birth to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA). As a result, the Northern Development Authority is the successor body to the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (see S.36 of the NDA Act, 2017). In other words, upon coming into force, the NDA assumed the assets and liabilities of SADA including needs assessment carried out in all the Constituencies that make up the Northern Development Zone. I will revisit the issue of the conduct of needs assessment by SADA which was subsequently adopted by the NDA as working documents upon the passage of the NDA law by parliament.

A key object of the NDA is to accelerate economic and social development in the Northern Development Zone through strategic direction in the planting and prioritisation of development projects (See S.2 of the Act 963). What can be gleaned from the above object of the NDA is that its interventions must be based on planning and prioritisation of development projects in the Constituencies under its jurisdiction. This then is the basis for the conduct of needs assessment in the constituencies to inform the kinds of interventions the NDA can or should make in a given Constituency.  

On the issue of the allocation of One Million per Constituency and the claim by an NPP Parliamentary Candidate that, the President had now converted the allocation to projects to be channelled through them (NPP Candidates) for execution purposes, S. 3(b) of Act 963 exposes the political manoeuvring of the NPP government in no small measure.

S. 3(b) of Act 963 reads as follows:

“For the realisation of the objects of the Authority, the Authority shall

(b)           oversee the application of the annual allocation by the central government to each constituency in the Northern Development Zone.”

It is very clear from a reading of the above provision that once an allocation is made from the Taxpayer’s money on an annual basis into the coffers of the Authority, the criteria for the application of the said allocation becomes the sole responsibility of the Authority. At this point, not even the President has any power to determine how the allocation made will be applied in the constituencies within the jurisdiction of the Authority not to talk of a parliamentary candidate of the NPP. In fact, and in law, the Authority in determining how to apply funds allocated to it must have recourse to its needs assessment reports which are its own handiwork and not the brain child of any NPP parliamentary candidate.

Again, the category of bodies and institutions the NDA in the discharge of its mandate must relate with have been stated in S.3(m) of Act 963 as follows:

“Cooperate with key statutory bodies and institutions including the National Development Planning Commission, Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Regional-Coordinating Councils, District Assemblies and other entities to ensure conformity with the National Development Plan to avoid duplication of functions.”

Although S.3(m) of Act 963 does not provide us with an exhaustive list of bodies and institutions the NDA must relate with in the execution of its mandate, what is certain is that it was never within the contemplation of parliament that the NDA in addition to the bodies and institutions listed above will have to collaborate and cooperate with Parliamentary candidates of the NPP and not Members of Parliament in the discharge of its mandate.

MEDIUM TERM EXPENDITURE FRAMEWORK (MTEF) FOR 2020- 2023 OF THE MINISTRY OF SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES (PROGRAMME BASED BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR 2020)

Under the Medium Term Expenditure Framework of the Ministry of special Development Initiatives for 2020-2023 (Programme based budget estimates for 2020), the programmes and projects intended to be undertaken by the three Development Authorities namely; the Northern Development, Middle Belt and the Coastal Development Authorities have been listed at page 3 as follows:

“Accordingly, the following underlisted projects in the table, which were initiated in 2018, are being delivered across the 275 Constituencies.

Flowing from the above, it is crystal clear that all projects being executed in the name of the Northern Development Authority and the other two Authorities were initiated as far back as 2018 when the NPP had not held primaries to elect parliamentary candidates for its so called Orphan Constituencies including the Builsa North Constituency.

In fact, the last time I checked, the NPP conducted primaries in the so-called Orphan Constituencies on the 28^th September, 2019. It is therefore extremely preposterous and deceitful for NPP parliamentary candidates to credit themselves with the work of the Development Authorities.

On the issue of constituency specific projects being executed by the Development Authorities including the projects to be undertaken in the Builsa North Constituency and the claim by the NPP Parliamentary Candidate that he lobbied for the said projects, the programme based budget estimates for 2020 of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives settles the matter at page 6 paragraph 5 as follows;

“These projects were selected from the Constituency Needs Assessment Reports which were developed by Ten Member IPEP regional teams, which was constituted in 2017 to compile the reports prior to the full operationalization of the three Development Authorities. Accordingly, some of the projects that are ongoing include construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure such as culverts, classroom blocks, community centres etc and the supply of furniture and equipment among others”.

It is obvious from the above that even the much talked about needs Assessment was done under the supervision of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority in 2017 and bequeathed to the Northern Development Authority.

The Medium Term Expenditure Framework of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives which is also the budget estimates of the said ministry, it is important to note was approved by Parliament sometime in December, 2019 and became part of the Appropriation Act, 2019  which gave government the green light to spend an amount of Ninety-Eight Billion, Six Hundred and Ninety-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Eight Ghana Cedis (GH¢98,036,692,358.00) for the 2020 financial year commencing on January 1, 2020.

What this means is that the 825 Constituency Specific Projects captured in the budget estimates of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives cannot be varied without parliamentary approval. Any variation of the Constituency Specific Projects without further parliamentary approval will be in contravention of the Appropriation Act, 2019 with dire penal consequences.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this paper has explored the legal regime under which the Northern Development Authority Operates. Under Act 963, the Northern Development Authority is insulated from all forms of political manipulation and is therefore not an appendage to any political party including the NPP. Consequently, its programmes and projects being executed is informed by the Needs Assessment done by regional IPEP Teams in all the Constituencies under the jurisdiction of the NDA. This position completely diminishes the value of all forms of propaganda which seeks to associate the NDA’s work with NPP parliamentary candidates in the Northern Development Zone.

The paper has also amply demonstrated that under the programme based budget estimates for 2020 of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, work in the form of needs assessment in respect of the Constituency Specific Projects currently being undertaken by the NDA started as far back as 2017.

In the coming days, I shall escalate this matter to the next level by seeking to extract relevant information from the Northern Development Authority by invoking my rights under Article 21 of the Constitution and the Right to Information Act recently passed by Parliament.

James Agalga, MP for Builsa North and Ranking Member; Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament