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Members of Parliament (MPs) must build reliable data of the poor and marginalised groups in their constituencies, to strengthen Ghana’s efforts in leaving no one behind in the eradication of poverty.

Mrs Gifty Twumasi-Ampofo, the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa-North in the Eastern Region, who made the recommendation, said being on the ground with the people, the MPs were well-positioned to identify and capture the needs of those who needed social protection interventions.

“I believe that from the grassroots of all the 275 constituencies, if every MP develops a data base for addressing the needs of those who have been excluded from our human resource development, it will make a significant impact to complement the national agenda,” she explained.

Mrs Twum-Ampofo was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on the sidelines of the 55th United Nations Session of the Commission for Social Development at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The event, being held at the world body’s headquarters in New York, is on the theme: “Strategies for Eradicating Poverty to Achieve Sustainable Development For All.”

Mrs Twum-Ampofo said building a sustainably prosperous economy towards the eradication of poverty by 2030, must prioritise the human resource development of all citizens.

Therefore, a lot of attention must now be given to especially Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), who had over the years, been left at the bottom of ladder of educational investments.

On the knowledge to be promoted from the conference, she said Japan’s policy of ensuring that each public-sector institution’s total workforce comprised, at least, two per cent of PwDs, was worthy of emulation.

The MP said her resolve to encourage middle-aged people who had limited or no education to enroll in literacy programmes to enhance their livelihood skills had been strengthened.

“In addition to the successful implementation of the Free Compulsory Universal Education and the Free Senor High School Policy, adult education programmes can help build and harness the capacities of all and sundry for national development,” she said.

Mrs Twum-Ampofo said she would also mobilise the young people in her constituency to position themselves to take advantage of the Government’s programmes of modernised agriculture, rural enterprises and industries, to secure sustainable jobs and enviable incomes.