The Northern Development Authority (NDA) yesterday began the inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Savannah and North East regions under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) spearheaded by the Akufo-Addo administration.
NDA earlier this year, cut sod for the implementation and execution of over 2,149 projects in various sectors of the economy such as education, agriculture, health, roads, electrification, water and sanitation and socioeconomic initiatives to bridge the infrastructure gap in the country.
These projects, according to terms and conditions agreed between the NDA and the various contractors, are expected to be completed between a period of three and six months.
IPEP focuses on direct capital expenditure towards constituency level infrastructure and economic development priorities with emphasis on rural and deprived communities.
The funding for the projects is coming $1 million per constituency, which was promised by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) prior to the 2016 general election.
Chief Executive Officer of the NDA Dr Alhassan Sulemana Anamzooya explained that the inspection exercise is to enable the authority find out whether actual work is happening on the grounds after the projects were awarded for construction.
He said the NDA will not ride on rumours about the status of the projects and therefore will always have first-hand information on the level of execution of the contracts across all beneficiary communities.
Dr Anamzooya noted that the Authority is very much concerned about the delivery of quality work and value for money.
At one of the construction sites at the Vittin Ansariya basic school, NDA CEO expressed joy about the speed of work on a three-unit classroom block and its ancillary facilities.
“We are happy to see the level of work ongoing and we are to ensure that not just the quantity of work but the quality of the work. We have engineers and consultants who are checking these projects on daily basis to ensure as work progresses steadily, quality is enhanced at every stage” the CEO maintained.
He gave assurance that all projects being undertaken and implemented by the NDA will be successfully done to become a reality and not a mirage.
Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Sa-eed has urged the media to disseminate the good interventions that are introduced by President Nana Akufo-Addo and implemented by the NDA.
He indicated that the massive infrastructure projects that are coming up in the northern region particularly, are the peace dividends the people are enjoying.
Mr. Sa-eed also admonished the Chiefs and people of the region to embrace the development agenda of the government for sustainable growth and development.
According to him, the Northern region is receiving over 700 pro-poor infrastructure projects to help transform the area.
“The government is doing everything possible to attract investors into the region and therefore, let us unite and consciously do something as people to support the Northern Development Authority to bring developmental projects into our various communities and traditional areas.”
The minister noted that if there is absolute peace, development will flow in naturally and the impoverishment of the people and poverty margins in the region will be reduced drastically.
