With about four years to meet the 2015 dead line to achieve Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1 which is to eradicate poverty, more Ghanaians still live in abject poverty in Ghana after 54 years of independence. In year 2000, Ghana joined about 189 other countries in adopting the UN Millennium Declaration, which lays out eight time-bound development goals to serve as a common development framework to improve upon the lives of people living in poverty. However, some Ghanaians have no access to basic needs such as clean drinking water, food and shelter. Millions of Ghanaian youth also do not have jobs which can put food on the table. “Let the leaders tell us what the millennium challenge account fund is used for. If not for anything let them use it to create jobs for us so we can feed our families,” some Ghanaians living below the $1 wage lamented. In August 2006, the Millennium Challenge Corporation signed a 5-year $547 million Compact with the Republic of Ghana aimed at reducing poverty by raising farmer incomes through private sector-led and agribusiness development. The MCC Compact in Ghana came into force (EIF) in February 2007, formally initiating the 5-year timeline for project implementation. Since then communication on how the money is being utilized is lacking. Ghana has made a little progress in poverty reduction, improvement in socio-economic development and good governance but experts have stated that there is more room for improvement. Meanwhile, Economic Consultant, Kwamina Essilfie Adjaye stated that the only way the government can alleviate poverty in the country is to adopt innovative measures to address the unemployment situation. Mr. Essilfie Adjaye reiterated in an interview with Adom News that the country is still wallowing in poverty because the past and present governments have failed to create job opportunities to tackle the unemployment problem in the country. According to him fifty-four years after independence, the country continues to grapple with huge problems of poverty, unemployment and infrastructure in spite of the numerous mineral resources the country possesses. Mr. Essilfie was sad that even though Ghana and South Korea both began its journey for economic independence; South Korea has transformed into an economy powerhouse, whiles Ghana's economic development continues to fall. “What is most important is for the government to provide jobs for able-bodied Ghanaians to help solve the problem” he said. Mr. Essilfie acknowledged that although Ghana is trying to reduce poverty there is more room for improvement. Story by Maame Esi Nyamekye Thompson/Adom News