Accra, June 14, GNA - Parliament on Thursday, through a resolution, approved a development financing agreement between government and the International Development Association for an amount of 110 million dollars for the fifth poverty reduction support credit. The amount would, among other things, create more jobs, provide incentives schemes to support girls to complete primary school and help in the implementation of the 2007 budget with the overall aim of reducing poverty.

Alhaji Mubarak Muntaka, (NDC-Asawase) in his contributions, said there was the need for clarification regarding the use of the some of the funds to subsidise the operations of the VALCO.

He said he did not see why part of the loan should go into VALCO operations since there was no link to poverty reduction. Mr. Stephen Balado Manu (NPP-Ahafo Ano South) countered, saying VALCO was strategically placed to support industry and create more jobs. Mr. Eric Opoku (NDC-Asunafo South) said it was worrying that girls were to be supported with the loan

at the primary level instead of the secondary school, since the Free Compulsory Basic Education scheme was being implemented. Other minority members from the NDC, who contributed, said poverty was still acute in the country and more effort should be made to address it.

Dr Anthony Osei-Akoto, Deputy Finance Minster, said the economy had grown with the GDP in recent times rising to 6.2 per cent. He said poverty had been reduced over the years from 51 to 28 per cent, adding that government was on course with its poverty reduction agenda.