Majority And Minority Agree On Poverty Reduction

The Leadership of Parliament has agreed to form an ad-hoc committee to study, evaluate, review and monitor the implementation of government(quote)s document on the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS). This follows a consensus arrived at between the Majority and the Minority when Dr Paa Kwesi Nduom, Minister of Economic Planning and Regional Co-operation made a statement in Parliament on the document. Dr Nduom told the House that "the main goal of the GPRS is the creation of wealth by transforming the nature of the economy to achieve growth, accelerated poverty reduction and the protection of the vulnerable and excluded within a decentralised, democratic environment.?

He also noted that ?the emphasis will be on stabilizing the economy, and laying a foundation for a sustainable, accelerated and job creating agro-based industrial growth that will focus on providing the enabling environment that will empower all Ghanaians to participate in wealth creation."

Dr Nduom said Ghanaians irrespective of their economic status or where they reside, "will have access to basic social services such as health care, quality education, potable water, decent housing, security from crime and violence, and the ability to participate in decisions that affect their own life".

He said the document, which was prepared by the previous government, was broadened and sharpened by the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Dr Nduom said; "five of 10 regions in Ghana have more than 40 per cent of their population living in poverty. The worst affected being the three northern savannah regions - Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions."