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General News of Monday, July 15, 2019
Source: Jubilee House
2019-07-15
Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance
The Ministry of Finance has sent launch letters to the three development authorities to start full implementation of the $ 1 million per constituency promise under the Infrastructure Program. for the eradication of poverty (IPEP) for the 2020 exercise.
The launch certificate makes available 1.66 billion GH ¢ (the equivalent of 320 million dollars) for 275 constituencies in the country.
This covers $ 275 million for 275 constituencies and $ 45 million for ongoing commitments.
The IPEP, commonly known as "One Million Dollars Per Riding", is a government initiative to address the critical infrastructure needs identified by local constituency actors.
Context
In the run-up to the 2016 elections, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is committed to eradicating poverty and reducing inequities between socio-economic groups in the geographic areas by providing basic infrastructure directly to the constituency level. particularly in rural and disadvantaged communities. .
"To achieve this goal, the IPEP will be the primary means of directing capital spending to specific infrastructure and economic development at the constituency level," said a statement from Jubilee House.
According to the IPEP, each of the 275 constituencies received the equivalent of $ 1 million per year to invest in infrastructure development initiatives of their choice, managed and implemented by the three authorities. the Northern Development Authority, the Middle Belt Development Authority and the Coastal Development Authority.
IPEP reports to the Office of the President and is overseen by the Minister responsible for Special Development Initiatives.
The infrastructure projects to be implemented will support and complement other government infrastructure projects.
Allocation
According to the statement, since 2017, budget allocations had been allocated to all constituencies in the country.
"However, because of the time needed to put the three development authorities in place, the $ 1 million per riding program was administered temporarily through the Minister of Special Development Initiatives.
"The three development authorities have since been created by an act of Parliament and are fully operational.
Therefore, the government has sent opening letters covering the total amount of the cedi equivalent of one million dollars intended for the three development authorities, to allow the implementation of the needs in constituency-specific infrastructure, "he explained.
According to IPEP, the IPEP was to ensure a bottom-up approach in which the infrastructure needs of each group would be grouped, prioritized and provided with allocated funds.
Infrastructure projects such as drainage systems, bridges, urban centers, road repairs, school renovations, provision of school and other offices are under way in all constituencies across the country, the statement said.
Needs badessment
A needs badessment for each constituency of the country has been conducted to determine the core infrastructure priorities for each constituency for which IPEP funds should be used over the next two years. he adds.
He added that the needs badessment was continually updated to reflect the changing basic infrastructure needs of all constituencies.
"Infrastructure plays a well-documented role in economic development and the eradication of poverty.
As a result, the administration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is deeply committed to bridging Ghana's infrastructure and reducing the poverty gap, which is currently estimated at $ 30 billion.
"The government has specifically demonstrated its commitment by providing funds for basic infrastructure projects in all constituencies of the country," the statement said.
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