Jerry Ahmed Shaib, CODA CEO
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Coastal Development Authority (CODA), Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has disclosed that his outfit has completed 129 infrastructural projects from the total of 1473 project contracts awarded for execution across the coastal zones of the country.
These, he said, forms part of government’s agenda of inclusive growth and poverty alleviation particularly in the coastal zones of the country.
He mentioned that Greater Accra Region has 380 projects completed; Central Region, 412; Volta Region 229; Oti Region 107; Western Region 220, and Western North Region, 125. He added that the remaining are at various stages of completion.
According to him, these projects include roads, classrooms, community centres, lorry parks, boreholes, durbar grounds, astroturf pitches, health facilities, libraries, bridges, drains, markets among others.
Mr Ahmed Shaib made this known yesterday while providing updates to the press on the coastal development agenda.
“As I speak, government has completed a total of 129 infrastructure projects across the coastal zones of the country, which is the six regions and 109 constituencies, with the remaining at various stages of completion. Various stages mean those projects that haven’t been completed are about 99, 90, 60, and 30 per cent complete. In fact, some are also done and we are waiting to commission and hand them over,” he stated.
Interventions/programmes
He also revealed that the Authority had embarked on numerous poverty alleviation programmes as part of efforts in achieving the principle of sustainable development and bringing development closer to the doorstep of people within the coastal zones of the country.
He pointed out that one of such projects is the ‘CODA drive’ initiative, which provides commercial motorcycle riders, Bajaj Qute vehicles on a hire-purchase basis.
This, he said, forms part of processes to phase out the commercial motorcycle business also known as ‘okada’.
“The CODA Credit Union is also there to support traders, fishers, commercial drivers, food vendors, hawkers and small scale farmers in terms of loans. It is a non-profit financial institution controlled by its members. It is a member owned financial cooperative.
“So far, the CODA Health Train programme in collaboration with NHIA, has also provided free NHIS Card Registrations to over 100,000 vulnerable people in the zone. The programme involves the provision of free health screening, medication and surgeries for Fibroid, hernia and other minor surgeries,” he disclosed.
He added that the Authority had also procured and distributed over 3,000 subsidised outboard motors to fisher folks, which included inland fishers, to boost Ghana’s fishing industry as well as help fisherfolks get bumper harvest.
He said the intervention was based on a hire purchase agreement with beneficiaries.
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