Poverty alleviation fund not a bonus - Agbenaza

Cape Coast (Central Region) 1 st April '99

The Central Regional Minister, Lt. Col. (Rtd) Charles Agbenaza, has called on beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation fund not to see it as a "bonus or a golden handshake," which should not be refunded. The fund, which is a revolving one, is to assist micro businesses that do not have access to conventional sources of seed capital and credit, he explained. At the second ordinary meeting of the first session of the Cape Coast Municipal Assembly on Wednesday, the Regional Minister stressed the government's determination to make Ghana a middle-level income country by the year 2020. He asked district assemblies to use part of the fund to support agricultural production and said recognised groups should be promoted if the country is to achieve food security Lt. Col. (Rtd) Agbenaza announced that the embargo on the award of contracts placed by the Regional Co-ordinating Council on some districts has been lifted following the streamlining of the procedure. He reminded members of tender boards of the legislative instrument that enjoins them to declare their assets. He also announced that Construction Pioneers, a construction firm, is to over lay ten kilometres of roads in the municipality free of charge and said, Ghana Highways Authority has been tasked to identify specific roads for the project. The Regional Minister asked the assembly members to put aside their political affiliation and to support the Municipal Chief Executive for the development of Cape Coast.