Kasoa(C/R) March 13, GNA - The Officer in-charge of the Ghana Country Office of the African Development Bank, Mr Diko Jacob Mukete on Tuesday paid glowing tribute to Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah for being one of the major visionaries behind the creation of the African Development Bank

He said as Ghana celebrated its 50th anniversary, it was important to pay tribute to some of the visionaries behind the creation of the African Development Bank especially Dr Nkrumah and the late Dr. Robert Gardiner, a Ghanaian and an eminent economist, who was its main architect.

Mr Mukete was speaking at Kasoa during the launch of the Urban Poverty Reduction Project (UPRP) for 12 districts. They are; Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Sekondi/Takoradi, Wenchi, Agogo, Akim Oda, Koforidua, Ho, Apam, Swedru and Kasoa.

The UPRP is a five-year project, aimed at enhancing Ghana's effort at achieving the Millennium Development Goal that calls for a reduction by half the proportion of the poor living on less than a dollar a day. Mr Mukete said the cooperation between the African Development Bank and Ghana has always been very good and has been further strengthened by the recent opening of a country office in Accra.

"This office has, as its main objective of enhancing of in-country activities and knowledge, conducting dialogue with the Government, civil society and all other stakeholders on policy and strategy issues as well as acting as a focal point on key aspects of the implementation of the Bank's projects".

Mr. Mukete expressed delight and pride at being associated with the launch of the project because promoting economic growth and contributing to poverty reduction was at the centre of the African Development Bank's strategy for Ghana and its vision for the African continent.