Parliament approves two loans

Page 54, July 17, 2008
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
PARLIAMENT yesterday approved two loan agreements totalling $60.4 million to support the implementation of the Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP).
The first was a $50 million loan agreement between the government and the African Development Fund (ADF) while the second was a $400,000 loan agreement between the government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
The marked seasonal hunger and malnutrition experienced in the three northern regions has partly been attributed to low productivity of the farming system in the area.
In addition to high illiteracy rate, both income and non-income indicators of poverty in the area are in all cases below national averages.
The NRGP was, therefore, designed to improve the situation through commodity chain development, rural infrastructure development, access to financial services and programme co-ordination.
This is to eventually contribute to equitable and sustainable poverty reduction and food security among rural households.
Members of Parliament (MPs) who contributed to the debate for the approval of the two loans, called on the government to ensure that the loans were used for the purpose for which they were contracted.
The Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Prof. George Gyan-Baffour, called for a more co-ordinated approach to all development programmes in the three northern regions to achieve their goals.
Meanwhile, the sector minister, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, yesterday briefed the House about the upcoming first high-level forum on aids to be hosted by Ghana between September 2 and 4, 2008.
He said the primary objectives of the forum were to review progress in implementing the 2005 Paris Declaration on the effectiveness of aids and broaden the dialogue on aid effectiveness.
The forum is expected to be attended by delegates from all over the world.