Five MMDAs launch COVID-19 Recovery Plans and Integrated Assembly Financing Frameworks to build back better

The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF) with partnership from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a COVID 19 Recovery Plan and Integrated Assembly  Financing Frameworks. The project which is supported five Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MMDAs) is aimed at growing the economy back and better from the impact of COVID-19 as well as  building resilience against local and external shocks.

The assemblies were Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Sagnarigu Municipal Assembly, Ketu South Municipal Assembly, Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Assembly and Kassena Nankana West District Assembly, in Ashanti, Northern, Volta, Western North and Upper East regions of Ghana, respectively.

This project  falls in line with the objectives of the Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalization of Enterprises Support (Ghana CARES) programme. The Ghana CARES Programme is the government’s GH₵100 billion comprehensive programme to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and return the country to a sustained path of robust growth.

In his address, the Director General of NDPC Dr. Kodjo Esseim Mensah – Abrampa stated that, the country's response to COVID-19 was a strategic one using the case of the most affected to leverage ideas to respond to national challenge. He said Ghana has placed the COVID-19 plans as part of the sustainable endeavor created by the Ghana CARES (Obaatanpa) programme. Indeed, the path created by this initiative is to ensure that noone is  left  behind in the journey towards creating opportunities and prosperity for all Ghanaians.

To facilitate recovery from the pandemic and transform the structure of the local economy to make it more robust and resilient, the Director General indicated that the NDPC, MoF, and UNDP, with active participation and collaboration of all key stakeholders particularly at the local levels, supported the five pilot districts to develop the COVID-19 Recovery Plans and the Integrated Assembly Financing Frameworks (IFFs).

Dr Abrampa said the COVID-19 Recovery Plan is guided by the national recovery framework and based on four pillars, such as local economy, people, infrastructure, and governance. The development of the IAFFs is part of Ghana’s efforts to lead in the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development. Over Ghc181 million is estimated for the implementation of the recovery strategies and the sources of funds will include internal generated revenue, district assemblies’ common funds, public private partnership arrangements, and donor support.

'The implementation of the plans was expected to speed up the COVID-19 recovery process and accelerate progress towards SDGs attainment, and ultimately build a Wealthy, Inclusive, Sustainable, Empowered, and Resilient Ghana (a W.I.S.E.R Ghana)' he emphasized.

The  Resident Representative for UNDP in Ghana, Angela Lusigi said, UNDP and the UN System in Ghana are committed to bringing collective resources and expertise to support Ghana's efforts towards the SDG attainment at all levels. "In appreciation to the UN Joint SDG Fund and contributing partners, we are helping to accelerate SDG progress and COVID-19 recovery through integrated national financing frameworks" she added.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted countries throughout the world, including Ghana. According to Ghana’s COVID-19 Local Economies Tracker survey results released by the Ghana Statistical Service in partnership with UNDP, the pandemic has had both economic and social effects on local communities, resulting in increase in crime, domestic violence, high prices, and low business productivity.