Public Agenda (Accra)
Akwasi Fredua
30 October 2009
The Director of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Ghana, Rev. Albert B. Kwabi, has given the assurance that the MDGs are achievable and cautioned government to take prudent steps and measures to ensure its successful implementation.
He urged government to subsidize agricultural inputs in order to increase agricultural productivity and make local products more competitive on the international market.
He also called for the speedy implementation of an agriculture and development fund to enhance market access and to address the major threats to rural livelihood, since agriculture employs about 90% of inhabitants in the rural areas.
He urged the government not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) which doesn't promote fair trade, but places developing countries at a disadvantaged. Though developing countries have made a commitment to give 0.7% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to developing countries, not even 0.3% has been given out yet, he said.
He made these statements at a press briefing on the outcome of this year's "Stand up and take action against poverty" campaign, in Accra.
On the issue of promoting quality healthcare, he called on the need for 70% of the health budget to be invested in hospitals. This, he said, will help in the fight against child and maternal mortality. Currently 580 women loose their lives per 100,000 births, and this figure needs to be reduced to the barest minimum.
Other recommendations he made to the government include the expansion of the school feeding programme and the need to have more concentration of the programme in the rural areas, training of traditional birth attendants, review and enforcement of all sanitary by-laws. He also called for the establishment of a fund to support women politicians and the inclusion of 40% - 60% of women in governance.
Delivering his address, Hon. Clement Koffi Homadu, Member of Parliament, Anlo, expressed worry that the proportion of sector budget for pro poor programmes and policies have been decreasing since 2006. He called for government to monitor funds allocated for pro-poor programmes in order to reverse this situation.
Adwoa Kluvitse, Country Director of Actionaid Ghana, said the impact of mining companies on communities have been very devastating. According to her, there has been a disproportionate impact on women resulting in teenage pregnancy, school drop out, and commercial sex work due to mining activities.
Moreover she said most mining and biofuel firms do not pay enough taxes to the government, ripping the nation for money at the expense of Ghanaians. She further advised traditional rulers to use the royalties they receive from companies to the development of their communities.
More than 117,000,000 people globally take part in the "Stand up and take action against poverty" campaign. In Ghana 5,569,824 Ghanaians took part in the campaign.
The MDGs are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability and develop a global partnership for development.
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