The Minister of State-designate for the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD), Mr. Osei Bonsu Amoah has stated that the Akufo-Addo government is investing about $889 million to provide infrastructure and social amenities through a number of flagship programmes to promote local economic development across the country.
Government through MLGDRD, he stated, is implementing a 5-year Ghana Secondary Cities Support Programme, which has so far secured $245 million for 35 assemblies in the various regions.
Contributing to the debate on the motion to thank the President for his Message on the State of the Nation in Parliament on Wednesday, Mr. O. B. Amoah disclosed that 191 projects are being tackled in these 35 assemblies under various units of the urban grant.
The Minister of State designate who is also the MP for Akuapem South MP said this is one of the flagship programmes of the Ministry because it is pursuing urban development at the highest level.
The fund, Mr. O.B. Amoah reiterated, is for urban development management to deliver key infrastructure, and improve service delivery to citizens through the decentralization policy.
He explained that it is one of the decentralization policy changes aimed at creating an enabling environment for income growth, sustaining business development and creating decent jobs.
This, he noted, will also add value to local resources for exports and improve the capacities of main actors especially women and the youth.
$180 million Safety Net Project
The Ministry, Mr. O. B. Amoah announced, is also implementing a $180 million Ghana Productive Safety Net Project for 100 districts for which basic services and economic opportunities are being improved.
“We are to build capacity and skills development opportunities for the youth. Through this, $180 million will be spent for the construction of feeder roads and dams in almost 400 communities, as well as distribution of about 11.9 million seedlings for one hundred thousand hectares to be disbursed and distributed across the country”, he stressed.
Mr. O.B Amoah said he touched on these flagship programmes to buttress President Akufo-Addo’s point that the government has not been reckless in its borrowing and that government is spending on the improvement of facilities and infrastructure for the very poor.
$150 million Social Cohesion Project
Mr. O. B. Amoah said government recently launched the Gulf of Guinea Northern Regions Social Cohesion (SOCO) project in Bolgatanga, Upper East Region to provide opportunities for Ghanaians, particularly women and the youth.
The project, he pointed out, is a multi-country US$450 million World Bank credit facility to be implemented in Ghana, Cote d’ Ivoire, Togo and Benin with the aim of providing support to the Northern parts of the Gulf of Guinea countries, which suffer instabilities owing to food insecurity, climate change, conflict and violence.
Mr. O. B. Amoah said out of the total amount, government is receiving US$150 million to implement the project in 48 Districts in the Upper East, Northern, Upper West, North East, Savannah and Oti Regions.
He said this project will also help address spatial and other inequalities, improve socio-economic and governance to promote inclusive growth and poverty reduction in these regions.
The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, will implement the project.
€296 million ($314.16million) for modern markets
The government, Mr. O. B. Amoah said, is also redeveloping and modernizing the Takoradi and the Kumasi Central Markets at the cost of €48 million and €248 million respectively, totaling about $314.16 million.
He gave assurance that the projects will meet the deadline and open for business.
Mr. O. B. Amoah argued that President Akufo-Addo has demonstrated what the government is doing with all the loans it has taken, which include the provision of courts, developing central markets and providing critical infrastructure across the country.
Promoting rule of law
Mr. O. B. Amoah stressed that the Akufo-Addo government has demonstrated its profound interest in efficient justice delivery system in the country.
He explained that the promotion of quality justice delivery is very critical to Ghana’s democracy and rule of law.
This, he noted, will guarantee liberties, enhance social order, resolve legal disputes, maintain the rule of law and provide equal protection for all citizens and protect individuals from arbitrariness, even from the government.
Mr. O. B. Amoah however noted that the base on which these can be achieved, is easy access to courts.
Accordingly, the Minister of state designate pointed out the Ministry and the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) through the vision and policy of President Akufo-Addo is constructing many courts across the country.
He said government has constructed 120 courthouses with accompanying accommodation for judges across the country.
President Akufo-Addo in the state of the nation address expressed pride at the dramatic intervention his government has made to tackle the disgraceful problem of dilapidated and inadequate number of courts in the country.
“As someone who for years earned my living as a practicing lawyer, I have first-hand experience of the unacceptable state of courthouses around the country and I am glad to inform the House that we are resolving this problem”, he stated.
