Mariam Hotel, Tamale — July 16, 2025
The Northern Regional Minister, Hon. Ali Adolf John, has commended the development organization Norsaac for its impactful contributions to youth empowerment, women’s advancement, and inclusive growth in Northern Ghana.
Delivering the keynote address at Norsaac’s mid-year review event, held under the theme “Strengthening Partnerships for Transformative Development” at the Mariam Hotel in Tamale, the Minister highlighted the critical role of civil society organizations in supporting government efforts to drive sustainable development across the region.
“Norsaac continues to exemplify how strategic partnerships between government and civil society can lead to transformational outcomes and tangible improvements in people’s lives,” Hon. Ali Adolf John said.
He praised Norsaac’s livelihood programs for aligning seamlessly with government initiatives such as the Women’s Development Bank, noting that such synergy is essential to building resilient communities and empowering women economically.
Hon. Ali Adolf John further outlined three guiding principles shaping the government’s collaboration with organizations like Norsaac — localization, accountability, and innovation. He particularly lauded the organization’s efforts in localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting community-based monitoring, and advancing transparency through social accountability mechanisms.
Acknowledging existing challenges in the partnership, such as funding gaps and bureaucratic inefficiencies, the Minister called for deeper engagement and collective problem-solving. He proposed three strategic priorities for the remainder of the year: scaling up proven development interventions, institutionalizing innovations pioneered by civil society organizations, and confronting emerging development challenges together.
Norsaac’s Executive Director, Alhaji Mohammed Awal, used the occasion to share the organization’s progress and human impact. He reported that Norsaac has directly touched the lives of 54,539 individuals across its various programs. He shared real-life stories of transformation — from Mariam, a young girl turned advocate for menstrual hygiene, to Boriporm Promise, a toddler saved through nutritional support, and a woman from Shedua who constructed household latrines on her own initiative.
Despite these achievements, Alhaji Awal revealed that Norsaac is currently facing serious operational constraints following the withdrawal of support from USAID. He disclosed that the organization has suffered a 70% budget cut, leading to staff downsizing, a narrowing of geographical reach, and thematic restructuring of its interventions.
During the event, Norsaac’s program presented detailed updates on key focus areas — Peace and Security, Economic Empowerment, Education, Health and Social Protection — offering participants a comprehensive overview of its initiatives and their outcomes.
Concluding his address, the Northern Regional Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening collaborations with development partners like Norsaac. He stressed that the Northern Region’s future rests on purposeful partnerships, with the government creating space and civil society acting with integrity, urgency, and innovation.
The mid-year review served as a vital platform to reflect on shared progress, re-strategize amidst constraints, and renew the commitment to transformative development for Northern Ghana’s most vulnerable populations.
Reported by; Issifu Alidu Laa-Bandow/zaaghana.com
