"Government working on revised poverty reduction strategy"

The Minister of Finance, Mr Yaw Osafo- Maafo said that the government is working on a revised poverty reduction strategy to help reduce the level of poverty in the country.

Speaking in Accra when Ghana and the European Union exchanged notes for a grant of 92 billion cedis to enhance water supply in the West Mamprusi, West Gonja and East Gonja Districts in the Northern Region, he said the modalities of the strategy are being discussed with the World Bank.

Under the water and sanitation project, 25 large communities in the three districts will benefit from a pipe distribution system with elevated reservoirs and a number of standpipes.

There will also be the building of 500 water points made up of 425 bore holes and 50 wells fitted with solar-powered hand pumps and more than 2,000 sanitation facilities in the selected three districts to improve both water supply and sanitation.

The project, which is to begin in the second half of the year and last for four years, will enhance the rate of coverage of water supply to 53 per cent and sanitation to 30 per cent.

Mr Osafo- Maafo said although there may not be any broad changes in focus from past poverty reduction programmes, it is important that current strategies reflect the aspirations and the needs of the present government.

He said it is the desire of the government to improve the agricultural sector as a means of reducing poverty, adding that without the focus on the sector no meaningful progress will be made.Mr Osafo-Maafo said the only way to achieve this is to eliminate problems that inhibit increased agricultural production so as to provide income for the rural people.