Do it, otherwise pack up and leave: Fono
"Do it otherwise pack up and leave this nation" is a stern warning issued to aid donors by the People's Congress Party (PCP) leader Fred Fono if PCP comes into power.
Speaking at the 5th media forum yesterday, Mr Fono said PCP is planning to rearrange the aid programs that donor partners had been pouring into the country.
"We feel that it is high time we rearrange the aid programs that donor partners had been pouring into the country.
"I have been the Minister of Planning and Aid Coordination and I have seen that in most cases, donors want to do their own things especially after the ethnic conflict when law and order was at its worst and donors had no confidence in the government system then."
He said if PCP comes to power after the upcoming National General Election, they will ask donors to play to their policies and programs.
" If I’ am to be in the new government, within the first month after we put our policies together, we'll hold a donors consultation meeting to tell them, this is the new government's programs, this is the new policies that are directed towards your aid program, do it, play unto it, otherwise pack up and leave this nation."
Mr Fono said it is now high time as a sovereign nation to tell donors to prioritise where their funds should be going.
"Because at the moment I have observed that many of the bigger development partners are also involving in micro-projects which I see has no impact on economic development.
"They should be told to involve in macro-projects - bigger projects especially on infrastructure, road infrastructure so that it can stimulate economic activities and growth.
He said that will allow people to actively involve in economic activities.
When asked on how the government can achieve that when it cannot meet some of the donors' requirements, Mr Fono referred to the Accra Parish Declaration.
"Accra accord Parish declaration spell out that it is the effective use of aid and donors are required to implement their programs inline with government policies, inline with government directives and I believe that we need strong leaders inorder to direct the donors to put their money where the government prioritises.
"I have observed over the years that even some of our bigger donor players, they are involving in very small micro projects like EU, AUSAID.
"We should be directing these major players to involve in bigger projects and infrastructure is a priority under PCP so that people will have access to markets.
By EDNAL PALMER
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