Accra, June 14, GNA 96 The distribution of projects under the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) is fair since the three Northern Regions already have similar projects ongoing. Mr Kofi Poku Adusei, Deputy Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, said this on Wednesday in reaction to concerns expressed about the distribution of projects to be funded with the MCA.

Some Members of Parliament and the People=92s National Convention (PNC) have expressed their displeasure about the exclusion of the Upper East and Upper West Regions from the allocation of MCA Projects. Mr Poku Adusei said the disbursement of the MCA funds was no different from other donor funded projects for which particular regions were chosen while others were left out.

"There are lots of other projects aimed at alleviating poverty within the three Northern Regions, which the other regions did not enjoy, though there are some regions, such as the Central Region, that are equally deprived," he said.

Mr Poku Adusei, who was interacting with a section of the media, said: "There are lots of programmes and projects already ongoing in those areas, and the MCA project cannot be targeted there when other districts in other regions also need some projects and programmes to help the development agenda of the entire country."

He cited the District Capacity Building Project (DISCAP), which had a total fund commitment of six million Canadian dollars, as one of the projects which the three Northern Regions were the sole beneficiaries. "The overall goal of DISCAP is to strengthen the capacities of local government in the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions to manage, in collaboration with nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and private sector, potable water and sanitation."

Mr Poku-Adusei said another project with foreign funding covering all the 34 districts of the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions was the District Wide Assistance Project (DWAP), which had a fund commitment of 14.5 million Canadian dollars with an implementation period spanning from 2004 to 2008.

Again: "For the Community-Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP), the three Northern Regions have benefited immensely in relation to other regions;" he said.

Mr Poku Adusei said the MCA programmes were aimed at reducing poverty through agricultural transformation in deprived areas; programmes for which the Government had already initiated moves in the three Northern Regions before the inception of MCA.

"As a nation, we need to adopt a holistic approach towards our development agenda instead of looking at issues based on ethnic sentiments."

He said in fairness, the nation should allow the Government to continue with its development agenda in the interest of all. Ghana is to draw 500 million dollars from the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) instituted by the United States Government to fight poverty and promote good governance.

Ghana seeks to establish the Millennium Development Authority, which would supervise, manage and ensure the implementation of Ghana Government=92s programmes under the MCA.

The Authority would also pursue the eradication of poverty through overseeing and managing other development programmes funded by the Government and development partners.

The MCA was instituted in 2002 by the US Government to provide alternative sources of funding development programmes in developing countries.

Under the MCA concept, beneficiary countries are allowed to propose their own programmes to receive funding.

Criteria for selection of beneficiaries are formed on the basis of governing justly; investing in people and encouraging economic freedom. Ghana is among 16 countries in the developing world and one of seven African countries to have been selected to benefit from the Fund. 14 June 06