Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Leader of the United Nation team charged to assist developing countries attain the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has described Ghana's 2001 external assistance of 651 million dollars as inadequate.
"Looking at Ghana position and efforts it is making in ensuring a sustainable development through its Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) programme, which has laid the basis for the achievements of the MDGs, it is clear that its external help is not enough and must be raised," he said.
Mr Sachs told the Ghana News Agency after he had met journalists to brief them about the team's mission in Ghana that, "Ghana has been designated by UN as one of the priority countries in the world for a comprehensive study and analysis of efforts made so far to achieve the MDGs, which was set in 2000 to extend to 2015.
He said the UN would assist the country to develop the best strategies and operational frameworks that would facilitate the effective implementation of the GPRS.
The facility would also cover Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Dominican Republic, Kenya and Senegal, which were identified with Ghana as the potential developing counties best prepared to meet the UN Secretary-General's Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
The focus on Ghana, Prof. Sachs said would be the raising of the productivity of farmers, especially smallholders through the provision of irrigation and fertilizer, investing in energy, infrastructure, healthcare, education, water and sanitation.
Mr Sachs is in Ghana with a 15-member team, for a three-day visit to discuss major challenges and opportunities toward developing needs assessment and confirming a timetable and organizational plan for achievement.
He said there was the need to revise and fast track the implementation of the GPRS to make it more ambitious to meet the goals. He noted however, that there was the need for a broader participation of the process bringing in civil society organisations to ensure a successful implementation.
