Inflation to go to 22% by end of 2000 -Dr Nduom

Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation said on Friday, that inflation would be reduced from the present rate of 25 per cent to 22 per cent by the end of 2000.

Launching the "Co-ordinated Approach to Implementing Poverty Reduction Programme and Projects", Dr Nduom said the reduction of inflation, which had a bearing on interest rates was due to the government's prudent economic measures.

He said the programme aims at ensuring that there was no duplication of efforts and dissipation of scarce resources in government's attempt to reduce poverty among deprived communities.

The new approach, therefore, was to correct the uncoordinated attempts in the past, whereby a number of projects and programmes funded by government and donors had little or no impact on the economy.

Dr Nduom said Ghana had about 250 million dollars of its debt cancelled as a result of joining the HIPC initiative and that the money saved, would be used to alleviate poverty.

Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence, said education is the key to development and urged parents to educate their children properly.

He advised Ghanaians to patronise family planning methods since living conditions has become unbearable adding that they should change their sexual habits and lifestyle to avoid the HIV/AIDS.

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children Affairs, urged women to assist in educating their daughters and said 60 per cent of the poverty alleviation fund would be used in assisting them.

She commended the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, Mr Tshikala B. Tsibaka, of the Regional Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for Africa and Mr Alfred Fawundu, UNDP resident Director in Ghana for their immense contributions towards women's affairs.

A four-member Regional Committee of the Emergency Social Relief Programme (ESRP) for Ashanti was inaugurated.

The members are, Mr E.E. Acquah-Moses, Regional Manager of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr A.A. Daramanu, Ashanti Regional Director of Education, Mr Joseph Owusu of the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP) and Mrs Georgina Opoku, Chairman of the Kumasi District Council of Labour.