Mustapha Sanah, Executive Chairman of Northern Ghana Aid (NOGAID), a development-oriented organisation, has appealed to developed nations to support poor countries to reduce poverty and disease to facilitate sustainable development and world peace.

He said it is imperative for developed countries to increase assistance to smaller and weaker countries to make them strong to reduce the urge to engage in violent conflicts normally associated with poverty.

The advanced countries have a moral obligation to do just that in making the world a happier place, “he said in an interview with Ghana News Agency, in Washington, after a dialogue session with Mr Joachim Von Amsberg, Vice President of the World Bank with civil society organisations (CSOs).

Mr Amsberg is in-charge of concessional Finance at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

Mr Sanah said, despite the difficult fiscal conditions the developed nations faced in 2010, they manage to extend $49 billion funding for the world poorest countries under the International Development Association (IDA) 16 Replenishment.

IDA is the World Bank’s assistance for the poorest of countries and key actor in progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Mr Sanah said the fund which elapses next year is currently boosting infrastructure investments in key areas like health, education, food security and rural transportation in beneficiary countries.

“These investments are playing very crucial roles in cushioning our collective move towards achieving the MDG’s.”

He said the moral obligation of the rich nations towards the poor should remain unshakable to ensure peace and stability to make the world safer.

Mr Sanah entreated CSO’s in Ghana and elsewhere to work together in pressing forward the agenda for increased support for poor nations under the IDA 17 Replenishment currently under discussion.