MCA funds will also support local investors - Nduom

Cape Coast, Nov 2, GNA - The Chairman of the Millennium Development Authority (MDA), Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, on Thursday announced that in addition to the main projects slated for some 23 beneficiary districts from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), potential investors in rural areas, such as agro-processors, would also be supported. He said the provision of basic amenities like electricity and water will be enhanced to facilitate rural industrialization.

Dr Nduom, who is the Minister for Public Sector Reform, was briefing the Central Regional House of Chiefs about Ghana's access of the MCA, projects to be undertaken and to solicit the support of the traditional leaders towards successful implementation of the programme.

The Gomoa and Awutu-Efutu districts in the Central Region have been selected to benefit from the MCA projects, which are targeted to primarily improve the nation's agricultural output and rural development, as well as to enhance the income levels of rural dwellers, particularly farmers.

According to Dr Nduom, four Ghanaian investors, have already expressed readiness to invest in the region and that they will be given the required support to generate more employment.

He appealed to the chiefs to release land for farming and other investments, adding that the judicious use of the MCA funds and the successful implementation of its projects, would enable the government to access more of such funds for the country.

The Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, also briefed the chiefs about projects planned to commemorate the celebration of the 50th anniversary independence celebration.

He told them that the region estimates to spend about 22 billion cedis for the anniversary projects in the region, such as the provision of street lights, 91jubilee' school buildings and recreational parks. Nana Arthur dismissed reports that that a sum of 20 million dollars that is estimated to be spent on the anniversary, was for merry-making. He urged the chiefs to mobilize their people to take part in the anniversary projects such as the tree planting.

The president of the house, Nana Kwamina Ansah VII, expressed the hope that the remaining 115 districts which have not been selected for the MCA, would be catered for in a special revolving fund as announced by the President.

He was unhappy about the fact that only six million people had registered for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and urged his colleagues 'to throw their weight behind' the scheme by encouraging all their people to register.