HIPC Initiative Vindicated- CR Minister

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, says the government's decision to adopt the HIPC initiative has been vindicated by the provision of development projects in the country.

He said most of the developments under the project are found in the deprived areas, which would not have benefited from such projects without the adoption of HIPC.

Mr Edumadze said this in a speech read for him at a day's workshop organised by the Ministry of Private Sector Development for district assemblies in the Central Region on the ''policy guidelines for Public-private partnerships in Ghana.''

The Minister said the government was desirous of leading the country into a middle-income level by 2010 and was therefore doing every possible to put in place structures to allow a private sector inclined development.

He said it was in this regard that the public Private Partnership policy is being evolved and called for collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Mr Edumadze said the provision of public service is critical at the district level where there are less private service and scare resources.

''Community participation in planning, implementation and management of service and infrastructure is more important at the district level where the capacity of the private sector is low.''

Mr Edumadze said it is important that district assemblies evolve ways in which both the public and private sectors would cooperate in the development of their various communities.