You are here: HomeNews2006 10 27Article 112881

Diasporia News of Friday, 27 October 2006

Source: Nana Sifa Twum

Nduom EXplains MCA IN UK

About 27 million dollars will be spent as administrative cost on the newly set-up Millennium Development Authority to oversee the effective implementation of the just contracted Millennium Challenge compact from the US government. The figure represents about five percent of the total 547 million dollars contracted.

So far the authority has received more than 500 applications for 14 advertised managerial and administrative vacancies. But to date, only two positions have been field where coordination and other initial establishing programmes are being done.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the authority, Dr. Paa Kwasi Nduom disclosed this at a press briefing in London. The briefing was part of the authority’s agenda to invite all stakeholders to participate fully in the implementation of the compact. The briefing also centered on the role of Ghanaians living in the diaspora can play in the implementation of the facility.

The two filled positions, he said was the Chief Executive Officer of the Authority and the Project Manager both of which have been occupied by Mr. Martin Esson Benjamin and Mr. Mathew Armah respectively. Both officials were with the Board Chairman at the briefing.

He said the authority has been mandated to make judicious use of the facility and therefore will not compromise any vice that will put the implementation of the compact in jeopardy.

According to him, the five percent allocation of the facility for the purpose of administration and managerial operations has to be sufficient for salaries, equipment, and other related facilities to run the authority.

Dr. Nduom announced that there will be a maximum, of only 500 employees to man the compact throughout the country adding that the information services department and the district assemblies together with other decentralised departments will be made to carry some of the responsibilities and duties of the authority.

All employees of the authority will be paid a consolidated salary so that the authority will not be looking for money again to pay their rent, transport and other remunerations.

He said as part of the requirement of wining the facility in the US, it is expected that every level of the implementation of the project be of the highest transparency. According to him, apart from it being a requirement, it will obviously build up the confidence of our own people and that of the donor government.

Paa Kwesi Nduom, who is also the Minister for Public Sector Reforms, mentioned that the project is being monitored with critical machinery both within Ghana and outside Ghana to ensure that this one does not be like any other facility the nation has secured. ‘We want you to prompt us when we are going wrong, we also want you to provide suggestions and above all come over to be part fully in the programme.’ The Minister told the gathering. He said, government is seriously addressing all land problems that entangles projects in the country. He said the compact, which would inject $547 million into the economy for the transformation of rural agriculture specifically will not solve all the problems of Ghana but, to a large extent help reduce poverty in the country. He said it is the aim of the government and the MDA to re-invest 20 percent of the seed money of 547 million cedis after five years of implementation. ‘We will also have to seek money elsewhere to vitalised the system when we realised we are making a headway’ he noted. This money he noted may come from within or outside the country.

‘This means we are creating a cycle of wealth for our people. It is our aim to provide visible evidence of profit and wealth in all selected areas so that other would also benefit in the very near future.’ Dr. Nduom stressed. Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Mr. Annan Cato, commended the Dr. Nduom and his team for the good job done for the country. He expressed the optimism that the Ghana will achieve greater heights especially on the ambitious task of being the third powerful member in the ECOWAS after the implementation years. He therefore urged all and sundry to see the facility as a national asset and help make it a success.