The Chief Executive Officer of the Middle Belt Development Authority (MBDA), Joe Danquah has hinted at plans to start building the capacities of citizens in the Authority's five operational regions.

He believes a lot has been achieved in respect of infrastructure development, and the Authority's next phase is human development to help reduce poverty.

"Now the direction is to go in for human development in the area of Agriculture since most of our people are already involved. We would also build greenhouses to support individuals who desire to venture into farming", he revealed.

Joe Danquah also said another strategy of the Authority, working in 109 constituencies, would be to build what would be called incubation centers to train and equip people with skills in masonry, carpentry, etc.

"We have also identified people in other sectors such as nurse trainees who have graduated without the opportunity to work and we have a strategy to help build their skills set for use elsewhere", he noted.

The Authority explained that they are already in discussions with an organisation in Germany that would lead to the re-training of such persons to suit specific markets so they could be exported.

He said they are looking at starting with at least 1,000 people beginning 2022, if they secure budget approval with the possibility of expanding the number of beneficiaries in the future.

All these strategies, aimed at developing the human resource capacities, after the many infrastructure projects, the CEO said, are expected to help eradicate poverty.

Joe Danquah made these revelations after the inauguration of five projects and inspection of an ongoing project in the Banda district of the Bono Region.

The infrastructures inaugurated are a three-unit classroom block with office and store for Kabrono Presbyterian Junior High school at GH¢237,500, and a ten-seater WC at GH¢120,000, to ease the sanitation challenges confronting the people of Kanka.

The rest are a two-unit classroom block with store and office each for Sarbie Presbyterian GK and Bofie DA primary school at GH¢237,500 and GH¢150,000 respectively, and a durbar ground at Banda Boase at GH¢500,000.

Another durbar ground at Gbao, expected to be completed by December ending at GH¢380,000, is also ongoing.

Nana Sakyeme Senapim II, Chief of Kabrono, expressed the community's appreciation to President Akufo-Addo and the Authority for the project. He appealed for their share of the one District one Hospital project and astroturf to help unearth sporting talents.

He also said, one way of ending electoral violence at Banda is to have an electoral commission office in the community, hence urged the government to come to their aid.

Nana Dua Batabour II, Chief of Banda Boase, besides thanking the CEO for a promise honored on the durbar ground, reminded him of the government’s promise to fix the only road in the cashew growing community connecting to Seikwa and Menji – Sarbie roads.

Joe Danquah, however, implored the chiefs and people of the communities to ensure maintenance becomes the responsibility of all to attract more projects to serve the needs of the people.

While some contractors have completed their scheduled projects being funded by the government's "One Constituency, One Million Dollars” initiative, others have vacated from the site or the project is moving at a snail pace.

The situation has been attributed to irregular payment, but the CEO of MBDA, Joe Danquah, insists the contractors would be paid soon as the processing of payment documents has reached an advanced stage.

He, however, said they have re-warned contractors who have received payment to return to the site, as appropriate sanctions would be given to them.