Agona Swedru, Oct. 12, GNA - Mr Felix Kwasi Owusu-Adjepong, Majority Leader and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs on Wednesday stressed the need to mobilise material and human resources devoid of partisanship for the country to achieve the development goals outlined in the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (GPRS II).

He said 93As a nation, the ability to achieve the development goals outlined in the GPRS II requires the mobilization of material and human resources devoid of partisanship to move the country forward.=94 Mr Owusu-Adjepong made the call when addressing the opening session of a two-day workshop on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at Agona Swedru in the Central Region.

It is being sponsored by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Mr Owusu-Adjepong, said Ghana adopted GPRS II (2006-2009) as a blue print for development in the medium term plan to accelerate growth and give impetus to the progress made so far to attain middle income status in 2015 and enhance living standards of Ghanaians.

He noted that in democratic practice, government policies should be responsive to the views and interest of its citizens, through elected representatives who would ensure the policies met aspirations of their constituents.

'Ghana's ability to achieve any significant gains under GPRS II would depend on how Parliament executes its oversight responsibility,=94 he added.

The Majority Leader said the Executive would continue to respect and uphold the independence of the Legislature and not engaged in acts that would undermine its independence.

"Nonetheless, it is significant that a vibrant and thriving democracy requires cooperation between these two arms of government in a synergistic manner," Mr Owusu-Adjepong said.

Mr Duaoda Toure, UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana said human development was beyond creating enabling environment in which people could develop their full potential and lead productive and creative lives to have wider choices.

He said in the 2005 Human Development Report, Ghana was ranked 138 on the Human Development Index (HDI) with life expectancy at 56.8 per cent, adult literacy rate 54.15 per cent, combined gross enrolment in the primary, secondary and tertiary levels at 46 per cent and population below the income poverty line of a dollar a day at 44.8 per cent. The UNDP Resident Representative, said the first report was published in 1997 followed by the second in 1998, the third in 1999, the fourth in 2000, no report in 2004 and the fifth in 2005, adding =93Preparations are underway for the sixth HDR on 'Social Exclusion and Human Development'.

Mr Toure said UNDP was in addition, supporting the preparation of District Human Development Reports (DHDR).

He said Tema Municipality, Atwima and Bulisa Districts were the first three pilot areas for which reports were prepared and disseminated in 2004 and additional three were being developed for Ahanta West, Offinso and West Gonja Districts.

Mr Toure said the MDGs endorsed by 189 World Leaders at the Millennium Summit in September 2000, were meant to eradicate poverty, halt spreading of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

He said the MDGs were established to provide universal primary education, promote gender equality, reduce child mortality, ensure environmental sustainability to build and strengthen partnership. On the workshop, Mr Toure said it was to ensure Parliamentarians played vital role in achieving the MDGs goals by pursuing human development growth model to enable Ghana attain a middle income status within the next decade.