The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA), Alhaji Seidu Iddi was on Saturday enskinned the chief of Bale in Bole traditional area.
The colourful ceremony at the Bolewura palace was attended by some notable personalities in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), such as member of the party’s National Council of Elders Alhaji Hudu Yahaya, MP for Bole Bamboi, Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, former MP for Damongo Adam Muntawakilu amongst others.
Alhaji Seidu Iddi served as a minister during the Jerry John Rawlings regime. He was appointed the first CEO of SADA by late President John Evans Atta Mills.
He is also the chairman of the NDC’S Council of Elders in the Savannah Region.
Being a prince, Bolewura Safo Kutugefeso appointed him chief of Bale early this year.
Early childhood
Alhaji Seidu Iddi was born to the humble family of Iddi Seidu popularly known as Iddi Aguffo; one of the early educated citizens of Gonjaland.
He worked with the then colonial administrators (District Commissioner) as bailiff interpreter.
Hajiah Mariama Iddi was his mom, a bread baker by profession, and took care of a greater part of the cost of his education at a time his father had taken ill and proceeded on retirement on health grounds.
Education
Alhaji Seidu Iddi attended the Bole L.A. Primary School from P3 to P6 and became one of the pioneers of the then Middle Day School from where he proceeded to Azoka Secondary (now Bawku Secondary).
He was one of the few graduates who attended sixth form at Tamale Secondary School from where he proceeded to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and graduated with a B.Sc. degree in Agriculture.
He subsequently, attended the University of Reading (UK) for the M.Sc. degree in Agriculture Extension and Rural Development.
While in employment, he attended several other local and international courses; amongst which were:
1. A post-graduate certificate program in cotton growing and extension methods from RUPPIN Institute of Agriculture, in Israel.
2. An Agricultural Management Training for Africa (AMTA) at GIMPA and sponsored by the World Bank.
Working life
After graduating from KNUST, he worked very briefly with the then Northern Regional Development Cooperation (NRDC) as a Project Officer and was later transferred to Cotton Development Board on National Service postings.
In the cotton sector, he worked as a Cotton Production Officer (CPO) as well as a Cotton Research Officer (CRO).
Alhaji Iddi’s career development took him to the Borno state of Northern Nigeria, where he was posted to the Kukawa Local Government Area as the Agricultural Officer in charge of the Local Government Area.
He was promoted to the state capital as Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Extension Demonstration Unit of the Borno state of Nigeria.
Back home in Ghana, he worked with an International multi-million dollar donor sponsored project (IFAD) as an Agricultural Extension Coordinator and second in command to the project coordinator.
At this stage, he was promoted to the position of Senior Agric Officer of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
After a successful professional career, the then PNDC government appointed him to the position of Deputy Regional Minister for Agriculture, Northern Region; the beginning of his political career.
Politics
In 1996, when the position of deputy regional secretary Agric Minister was abolished, he was elevated to a substantive ministerial position; Northern Regional Minister for four years.
He sojourned to Volta Region, on transfer, as Volta Regional Minister for a year and reverted to the Northern Region as Northern Regional Minister until the NDC was voted out of office.
Academia
Out of political office, Alhaji Iddi pursued an academic career as a lecturer at the Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension of the University for Development Studies (UDS).
He became Head of Department (HOD) for 7 years before going on retirement.
After retiring from the University, he proceeded to start up the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) on a two-year contract as the first CEO for SADA.
He has since retired from public Service, the Academia and is currently Bale-wura.
Alhaji Seidu Iddi hopes to deploy his knowledge and expertise in public service, academia and social life to the chieftaincy institution.
