The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional area, Naba Baba Salifu Alemyaarum has lauded the President for the introduction of the ‘One Constituency, One Million Dollars’ policy.
According to him, the policy will help address some developmental challenges which hitherto could not be tackled by the Common fund which has over the years been faced with diverse challenges and also has its direction and how it’s been used.
Speaking to host of A1 Radio’s Daybreak Upper East, Christopher Asima, the Chief said “We all embrace the new idea by the government under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo for providing these funds for all the constituencies. For me, I see it as a very new innovation that will enhance development in the various constituencies and districts, instead of relying on the Common fund which is always been directed as to how it’s been used”.
He indicated that with the introduction of the policy, the various constituencies will be able to undertake the needed developmental projects in the constituencies without fear of been sanctioned by auditor because the people will look at what is their priority and tackle it.
The Ministry for Special Development Initiatives disclosed that the $275 million to be disbursed to all constituencies across the country is ready. The sector, Minister Hawa Koomson, explained that 70 percent of the $1 million dollars for each constituency, will be spent on government’s priority projects such as the “One district-one factory, one village one dam, warehouses for planting for food and jobs among others.
But the Chief indicated that the ‘One District One Factory’ will not be a four years project and therefore there is no cause for alarm on whether the one million dollars provided will always be used for these priority projects for the government.
“This one district one factory issue is not going to be continuous. If you build one factory this years and maybe you are not able to complete this years then you will continue next year. When you finish building the factory then you have finished. The next time the money comes you will be using it for other projects. Even building the factory is a laudable idea for even we the people in the Northern zone because we have a lot of shea tress so we can think of putting up a factory that will process the shea and also the Baobab. Even the thirty percent that will be left we can see the priority areas and invest this money into developing the North.”
He said after the first year, the constituencies will be able to identify their priority areas when it comes to development so they can invest their funds there to ensure that they are provided with the best because by then, all the factories would have been built and there will be no need to use the money to build others.
He, however, indicated that the needed mechanisms should be put in place to help fight the misappropriation of funds and also check how these monies disbursed will be used for the purpose for which it was disbursed.
Source:a1radioonline.com/Ghana
