President Nana Akufo-Addo has given executive approval for the bill on the establishment of three development authorities to be laid in Parliament next week.

He has also approved for Parliament’s consideration, the Zongo and Inner City Development Fund.

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who announced this at Dodowa said the authorities' bill when approved, would serve as a vehicle for the implementation of the infrastructure for poverty eradication program.

Speaking at the launch of the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) Friday, Dr. Bawumia said, that is the reason for the constitution of a 10-member team across the 10 regions of the country.

He said they would be researching the needs of their constituencies in each of the regions.

“When you put these together after consulting the various stakeholders including the Members of Parliament of the region, about a particular need, their need will readily be addressed, once the Development Authorities are put in place,” he told the participants.  

During the 2016 campaign, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) promised to set up development authorities.

These are the Northern Development Authority, for the three northern regions; the Middle-Belt Development Authority, for the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, and Eastern Regions; and Coastal Development Authority for the four coastal regions.

All the authorities will be reporting to the Office of the President and they will be the vehicles for the implementation of the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme.

Gov’t will allocate $275 million per year to tackle issues relating to infrastructural development and poverty eradication in rural and deprived communities across the country.

This amount, which translates into $1 million per constituency is to be contained in the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme.

According to Dr. Bawumia, “the big factories can come but at the micro level let’s empower the women. Remember Nana Akufo-Addo is the gender champion of Africa promoting the course of women is a priority.”

He added that the ideas that women can come up regarding businesses are tremendous therefore, he advised the project coordinators to liaise with the queen mothers to see what factories can come out of the local communities.

Dr Bawumia said IPEP would also provide for the construction of household and public toilet facilities, refuse collection system, engineered land filled sites, sewerage treatment plants to address poor sanitation.

In addition, it would stimulate local economic development needs for all constituencies. The outcome of the projects will engender complimentary projects including bridges, community buildings and community-based health buildings.