MPs call for non-partisan approach in reducing poverty

Accra, Oct. 28, GNA - Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday called for a united front and home-grown solution to reduce the poverty levels in the country.

The House said if poverty was to be tackled with all the seriousness it deserve, it should be done in a non-partisan way, so that party affiliations would not stifle the tapping of the experience of people from the different political shades to deal with the problem from its roots.

The MPs were contributing to a statement on this year's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, which fell on October 17. Mr Kofi Humado, Chairman of Parliament's Special Committee on Poverty Reduction, who made the statement on the floor of the House, said the theme for the Day was: "Stand up; take action, end poverty now." "This theme highlights the need for a truly global anti-poverty alliance.The campaign to make poverty become history is a central moral challenge of our age that cannot remain a task for a few. It must become a calling for many all over the world and as well as in Ghana." Mr Kumado said although Ghana had made some strides in poverty reduction, the country needed to focus on pro-poor programmes to facilitate the progress.

He said government ministries, agencies and departments should ensure that adequate provision was made in their budgets for the implementation of the pro-poor policies.

Mr Dan Botwe New Patriotic Party MP for Okere, said, lots of monies were being spent on setting up of a number of public committees when the funds could be directed into catering for the poor.

Mr George Kuntu Blankson, National Democratic Congress MP for Mfantsiman East, said not until the levels of food production was raised to feed people as well as increasing agricultural export, very little would be achieved in trying to cut down poverty levels.

Others who contributed touched on the need for the country to focus on improving access to health, education and other social services to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable in society - women and children.