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The Deputy Minister For Local Government, Decentralisation And Rural Development and Member of Parliament for Old Tafo-Pankrono Constituency in the Ashanti region, Hon Vincent Ekow Assafuah Esq. has launched Ghana’s Maiden District-level Poverty Measures at Alisa Hotel in Accra on Wednesday 19th June 2024.
The MPI according to the Minister will provide crucial data to guide effective, evidence-based policies and interventions, addressing poverty from multiple dimensions beyond income levels.
“This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the holistic development of all districts. This groundbreaking initiative will provide critical insights for tackling poverty and enhancing policy-making at all levels” He said.
In his open remarks, the Deputy Minister recalled that poverty reduction and its eventual eradication remains the central focus of the government, as the menace is an outcome of diverse, connected and hierarchical social, psychological, economic, health, political and environmental challenges. Its drivers are not only multifaceted, it eradication requires coordinated and sustained multi-sectoral approaches and interventions.
Hon Vincent Ekow Assafuah disclosed according to Multi-Dimensional Poverty Report issued by the Ghana Statistical Service in June 2020, which was based on the GLSS 7 that their multidimensional poverty was 45.6%. He was excited to note that, as result of pragmatic policies and interventions, the 2021 Population and Housing Census data indicated that Ghana’s multidimensional poverty was hovering around 24.3%. This clearly demonstrates the interventions rolled out were making an impact and the incidence of poverty was reducing.
However, he was of the hope that there was more room for improvement and for that matter Reports of this should be welcomed and used to inform policy and programming.
Hon Vincent on behalf of the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisaton and Rural Development commended the Ghana Statistical Service for producing the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Reports for all 261 Districts in Ghana. The release of those Reports demonstrates the GSS’s dedication to providing comprehensive data for effective evidence-based planning and implementation.
“For us, we find these Reports very useful as we are mandated to ensure good governance and balanced development of rural and urban areas. I must say that these Reports will serve as a tool for targeting beneficiaries for various programmes and projects. Additionally, these Reports serve as a strategic resource for us, as it provides baseline data to monitor progress of local level development and the trajectory to eliminating all forms of poverty across Ghana” He added.
He also encouraged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and Officers to take interest in studying the Reports to guide their developmental approaches at the local level.
Addressing the media, Lawyer Vincent Ekow Assafuah was delighted to inform that the targeted users of the reports include the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Planning and Coordination Units (MMDPCUs), Development Partners, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), the Private Sector, Research Institutions, Academia, Religious Organisations, Traditional Authorities and citizenry.
He therefore reiterated and convinced that the release will greatly support the work of the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in preparing their Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs) as well as execution of those activities to positively impact the good people of Ghana.
Hon Assafuah Esq. pledged the ministry’s full commitment in ensuring that all the MMDAs utilise the published report to the fullest to guide their development approaches.
“By realising the nuanced relationship between poverty and food insecurity, which these Reports provide, policymakers can design more effective and targeted interventions, alleviating poverty and improving food security for vulnerable households” He concluded.
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Report by Rexkin Ohene Boateng
