Government’s Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Program (IPEP) has created at least 15,000 jobs in the north of Ghana under the auspices of the Northern Development Authority.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the NDA Dr. Alhassan Sulemana Anamzoya, over 2000 projects have been initiated by the Authority under IPEP since its establishment in 2017.
Addressing stakeholders and participants at the 2020 Northern Ghana Development Summit in Bolgatanga on Thursday August 20, 2020, Dr. Anamzoya indicated that works including the construction of hospitals, school blocks, CHPS compounds, market centres, snake bite centres, community centres, boreholes, bridges, and supply of school furniture are ongoing within the northern enclave.
“Ministry of Finance released a conditional approval of GHC1, 724, 383,246,15 pesewas to all three development authorities. Out of this amount, the Northern Development Authority was allocated GHC 266, 760,000. This has enabled the NDA to initiate more than 2000 projects, and has successfully awarded and handed over sites to contractors throughout northern Ghana. This has created an estimated 15,000 short term jobs to all kinds of artisans across Northern Ghana,” he said.
He further stressed that stakeholders’ engagement is key to the success of IPEP and all projects and initiatives under its wing.
“The needs assessment revealed various needs of different communities across different constituencies and this has proven to be beneficial in the sense that ownership of the projects at the community level can be felt, and this is crucial for the success and sustenance of the programme,” he added.
Dr. Anamzoya reiterated the commitment of NDA to improving the social and economic lives of the people in its operational area adding that “Apart from the government and its partners in development, we also have a moral obligation to see to the closing of the social and economic inequalities amongst us as northern Ghanaians.”
