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Accra, July 21, GNA – Vice President Dr
Mahamudu Bawumia states that the flagship policy of one million dollars per riding
develop disadvantaged communities in the country to engender integration
development.
S addressing African Heads of Mission and
Caribbean diplomat in Havana, Cuba, during a working breakfast on
Friday, Dr. Bawumia highlighted some successes attributed to Akufo-Addo
Government.
He stated that the bottom-up approach adopted by
the government has ensured inclusive and non-elitist development across the country
so that no one is left behind.
"For us as a government, we are very
concerned about poor and rural communities. Many times, development goals
pursued by the governments were elitist. They focused on building the huge
hospitals, theaters, museums, among others, in cities to the detriment of
basic needs of rural people.
"It's not inclusive enough. If one wants
impact of lives as governments then we must prioritize the needs of rural
communities that have remained excluded from many previous programs of
Governments.
"That's why we designed and
implemented the policy of one million dollars per constituency to meet the
Basic needs of the poor, such as toilets, drains, dams for the entire year
agriculture, community water projects, footbridges, community downtowns,
redevelopment of roads, renovation of schools, provision of school desks and many
others, "explained Vice President Bawumia.
The million dollars per riding is a
policy implemented by the government under Infrastructure for Poverty
Program of eradication (IPEP).
Under the IPEP, each of the 275
constituencies are allocated the equivalency of $ 1 million a year to be
invested in infrastructure development initiatives of their choice, managed and
implemented by the three development authorities – Northern Development
Authority, Middle Belt Development Authority and Coastal Development
Authority.
The program is placed under the Office of
President and under the supervision of the Minister of Special Affairs
Development initiatives.
Infrastructure projects to be
implemented will support and complement other government infrastructure
projects.
There has been a budget allocation for
all ridings in the country since 2017. However, due to preparations
towards the creation of the three development authorities, the One
million dollars per constituency was administered temporarily by the
Minister of Special Development Initiatives.
The three development authorities have since
created by an Act of Parliament and is fully operational.
Therefore, the government has published
start letters to cover the total amount of cedi equivalence of a
millions of dollars to the three development authorities to start
implementation of specific constituency infrastructure needs.
Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance,
this month, sent the launch letters to the three developing countries
Authorities begin full implementation of $ 1 million per riding
commitment in the framework of the IPEP.
The certificate of commencement makes available
1,664 million GHC ($ 320 million) for the 275 constituencies of
the country.
This covers 275 million dollars for the 275
constituencies and $ 45 million for outstanding commitments.
GNA
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