By CHRISTIAN KPESESE –
Ghana`s determination to bridge the huge development gap between the south and the Savannah Ecological Zone through the Savannah Development Authority (SADA) has received a major boost following the commitment of Singapore to that effect.
A recent Ghanaian delegation to that country led by the Minister of State at the Presidency in-charge of Development Authorities, Hon Akwesi Opong-Fosu have signed vital technical and cooperation agreement that would enable SADA to tap into the wider Singapore Government’s skills and technical resources through the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE) in implementing Ghana`s master development plan for the zone.
The immediate actions include a comprehensive Concept Plan that clusters the SADA Zone around specific growth poles, and proposes specific sectoral transformation plans.
It entails the production of actual city models for Tamale and Buipe with an integrated property and land management system.
SADA will also ensure the development of agriculture and industry in the region to help lessen the disparity between it development and other parts of the country.
The trip to Singapore which was at the instance of SADA`s consultant, Surbana Jurong (SJ) currently undertaking the Master Planning process provided an opportunity for the Ghanaian authorities to acquaint themselves with the value of effective development planning.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SCE which is agency of the Singapore Government responsible for Trade and Investment – with the responsibility for Government to Government relationships was developed with guidance from the Attorney General`s Department and Ministry of Justice.
The trip coincided with a 2 day Africa-Singapore Business Forum which offered an opportunity for the Ghanaian entourage to establish useful contacts and business relations with their Singaporean counterparts.
Hon Oppong Fosu and a Board member of SADA Professor Mariama Awumbila , CEO of SADA, Mr Charles Bugri and some officials from GIPC, Free Zones Board used the opportunity to understand the nature and background of Surbanan Jurong as a consultant to SADA as well as the nature and relevance of the Concept of Master Planning as applied in Singapore.
The team was exhaustively briefed by SurbanaJurong with regards to the history and dynamics of the Singapore Development Story, Surbana Jurong’srole and the importance of planning and plan implementation in the Singapore success story.
The team also met with the MD for the Africa Division of, as well as the CEO of a newly acquired subsidiary – SMEC International – an Australian infrastructure company with more than 1300 string staff working in several parts of Africa including Ghana.
SMEC builds dams, Roads, irrigation and energy infrastructure, railways, water treatment plants etc. The importance of the acquisition of SMEC to SADA is that we have access to advice on infrastructure.
The SMEC team in Accra will meet with SADA to understand the infrastructure issues emerging from the planning process and to provide preliminary advice on prioritization and subsequently support SADA, as part of a wider Service Agreement, to undertake a comprehensive study of the water resources in the SADA zone and develop a water management strategy, including a risk mitigation strategy.
The mission also identify the need for Ernst and Young to support SADA in 3 areas (1) develop a financing vehicle (2) assess the game changing projects identified in the SADA Zone Master plan for their level of bankability and (3) develop a strategy for mobilising private capital especially from the Asia region.
A team of technical and Vocational training experts will visit Ghana, as part of the planning process, to assess the SADA zone skill training and development needs and develop a strategy to address to address them.
The team will in particular look into the feasibility of establishing centres of excellence in technical and vocational training, drawing from the Singapore experience.
The delegation visited the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) to acquaint themselves with the various urban modeling and housing estate galleries and to learn the long term planning approach of the Singapore Government.
85% of the housing stock in Singapore is public housing, most of theme developed and managed by Surbana Jurong.
The SADA zone covers 54.4% of the total land area of Ghana, about one third of Ghana’s population, comprising 64 administrative districts in the Northern, Upper- West, Upper-East regions, and the northern parts of Brong Ahafo and Volta regions.
