UPRP to be finance pilot intervention programme

Sekondi Jan.16 GNA- The Urban Poverty Reduction Project (UPRP) will finance a pilot intervention programme for the development of a five-year metropolitan plan for Accra, Kumasi and Sekondi-Takoradi, to enable the cities obtain recognised international financial grading and access international capital markets.

Mrs. Elizabeth Abena Nkrumah, Zonal Officer of the Social Investment Fund (SIF) in-charge of the Western and Central Regions, announced this at a workshop for members of Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Sub-projects Review and Approval Committee, at Sekondi on Monday. The two-day workshop was organised by the Local Projects Implementation Agency (LPIA).

Mrs Nkrumah said the intervention, which is under the capacity building for pro-poor urban development and management component of the project, includes support for establishment of community businesses and development plans.

She said the objective of the Urban Small-Scale Enterprises Development component was to increase job creation through partnership between small enterprise sector and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. Mrs Nkrumah said, "Its specific objective is to provide support to 600 small dynamic, growth-oriented enterprises with high employment generation potential to upgrade them to Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) level".

She also said this would be achieved through business development services including entrepreneurial and management skills development, advisory services and access to local and national markets. Mrs Nkrumah said the Social Capital and Investment Component would support social inclusion and integrated social-economic infrastructure and maintenance for the betterment of livelihoods in poor urban communities.

She said, "People below the extreme poverty line would receive Social Inclusion Transfer (SIT) through a scheme that promotes the principles of social protection provision to the poorest as a right". Mrs Nkrumah said about 50 community maintenance management committees would be created and trained as well as train artisans in preventive and curative maintenance.

She said the UPRP is estimated to cost 41.67 million United States dollars.

Mrs Nkrumah said the project would be financed with African Development Fund (ADF) loan of 37. million dollars while the government would contribute the remaining 4.17 million dollars.

She said the UPRP would be implemented in 12 towns including Accra, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tema, Koforidua, Ho, Akim Oda, Agogo, Wenchi, Swedru, Apam and Kasoa.

Mrs Nkrumah said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is the project executing agency while the Fund Management Unit (FMU) of the SIF is the project implementing agency.