Millennium Challenge Corporation commends Government

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in the United States has commended the government for its outstanding performance in the implementation of the current MCA programme.

According to Darius Mans, acting Chief Executive Officer of the MCC the government's commitment in improving the livelihood of the Ghanaian places it in a position to be among a few beneficiaries of a new program to be managed by the MCC to help government in advancing the provision of more social amenities and improving infrastructural projects across the country.

Ghana is expected to be among the few beneficiaries of the US sponsored programme that would take of after the completion of the Millennium Challenge Account programme in Ghana.

Darius Mans, acting Chief Executive Officer of the MCC, who dropped the hints of Ghana's likely selection for the next programme at a meeting with President Mills in Washington on Tuesday, did not give details of the impending programme.

However, he noted that Ghana's outstanding performance in the implementation of the current MCA programme, makes it's a likely beneficiary of the next programme, which is a follow-up one to consolidate the benefits of the MCA.

The five year US-funded Millennium Challenge Compact signed in August 2006 between Ghana and the United States of America through the MCC is offering some 547million dollars of the MCA for development projects in the country.

Currently, the MCA programme, being implemented by the Millennium Development Authority has largely been used to pursue projects that could positively transform the lives of the poor in deprived communities.

The projects are focused on improving the areas of agriculture, water and sanitation, education, healthcare delivery, road infrastructure and small and medium scale enterprises towards increased at poverty reduction.

According to Mr. Mans, the board of the MCC would soon outline the criteria for countries' participation in the next programme, but was optimistic that Ghana would be one of the first countries to be selected.

He said that the Corporation was proud to be working with Ghana on the compact, adding that although Ghana had not reached completion, they were happy to with the level of progress.

He urged the government to continue to be committed to the compact to ensure its successful completion for the benefit of Ghanaians.

The MCC, he assured, would continue to provide the necessary support to the government in addressing the challenges that occasionally confront the implementation of the programme.

According to Mrs. Zita Okaikoi, Minister of Information the meeting afforded the government delegation and the MCC team to assess the progress and the challenges in confronting the MCA projects in Ghana.

She said the President and his Ministers at the meeting were excited at the news that Ghana could be a beneficiary of the next MCA programme, and indicated their readiness to work for it.

The Information Minister said that President Mills, acknowledging the benefits of the MCA in improving the lot of Ghanaians, consequently urged his Ministers to ensure that it was completed on time to enable Ghana benefit from the next programme.

President Mills, she said thanked the US government for the support and expressed appreciation to the MCC towards the implementation of the programme.

“The government is determined to come out with a success story with the MCA,” he was quoted as saying.

Present at the meeting where the Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffour, Minister of Trade and Industry, Mrs. Hannah Tetteh and other top government officials accompanying the President.

Development / Ghana / Africa / Modernghana.com