Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says the-soon-to-be established Development Authorities under the government’s Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Program will be funded through the one-million dollar per constituency funds to drive rural development.
He said the Development Authorities, which included Northern Development Authority, Middle Belt Development Authority and Coastal Development Authority, would receive funds equivalent to the number of constituencies that fell under them to implement their programs.
Dr. Bawumia said this when addressing the 18th congregation of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in Tamale on Saturday where over 2000 students from Navrongo, Nyankpala and Tamale campuses of the UDS graduated with various degrees and diplomas for the 2016/2017 academic year.
He said the Northern Development Authority will receive the equivalent of 57 million dollars each year for its programs.
Dr. Bawumia is not happy that many rural communities lacked access to potable water, sanitation facilities among other basic needs saying government is, therefore, positioning the Development Authorities to be the vehicle to drive rural development by addressing those basic needs.
He urged the soon-to-be established Development Authorities to partner UDS in their quest to bring development to communities because UDS’ students stayed in the communities and understood their needs.
Dr. Bawumia said government is working to change the development paradigm of exclusion to inclusion of all in the country’s development process to ensure accelerated development.
He said this informed the implementation of the Free Senior High School program since education was key to equip all with knowledge to drive development.
Dr. Bawumia said government will continue to work to address the infrastructural challenges facing UDS.
He on behalf of President Nana Akufo-Addo, handed over certificates to deserving graduates.
“I wish them all the best as they set out on their various career paths.” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor of UDS, Professor Gabriel Ayum Teye, complained about the acute infrastructural challenges facing the University forcing it to deny admissions to many qualified applicants.
Professor Teye said there are currently 44 uncompleted infrastructural projects at the University some of which started 14 years ago.
Source: GBCONLINE
