Government disburses money from HIPC

Government has so far disbursed a total amount of 180bn cedis from monies accruing from the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative to finance various development projects aim at reducing poverty in communities throughout the country.

An amount of 80bn cedis was also spent for payment of government debt and the interest accruing on it. Dr Anthony Akoto-Osei, Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance announced this at the national launch of Ghana HIPC Watch; a project, which aimed to educate civil society organizations to be proactive in the monitoring of HIPC, funded projects.

The Social Enterprise Development Foundation of West Africa (SEND), a non-Governmental Organisation is facilitating the project to sensitise civil society organizations and local-based community groups to partner with District Assemblies to ensure that the projects impact on the lives of beneficiaries.

Dr Akoto-Osei said an additional 30bn cedis of the funds would soon be given out to finance projects that meet the guidelines. He explained that the process of disbursement was moving slowly because government wanted to ensure that it was transparent and accountable.

"The Ministry of Finance is concerned about proper use of resources to impact the lives of the people in the country." It is in this connection that the Ministry of Finance had involved the Ministry of Local Government to co-ordinate the projects, since they were aware of the real situations in districts of the country.

Dr Akoto-Osei pledged Government commitment to providing the necessary support for civil society to disseminate information and educate people on the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy.

He, however, noted that the participation of the poor should go beyond benefits to actual participation in decision-making to enhance whatever was derived from the programmes. Siapha Kamara, Chief Executive Officer of SEND, said the HIPC Watch project would work towards the maximization of the effects of the HIPC on people with disability, widows, small-scale producers and the vulnerable in society.