In accordance with its mandate and commitment, the Coastal Development Authority has designed the CODA Drive initiative to eradicate poverty and create wealth for commercial drivers, okada and pragya riders. The new initiative is also expected to help address road safety within the Coastal Development Zone.
In an interview with the media last Thursday to outdoor the vehicles, Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib explained that under the CODA Drive intervention, CODA will offer Bajaj Qute four-passenger quadricycles to drivers and okada riders on hire purchase for use as public transport. The operation of CODA Drive will initially be concentrated in rural areas and city outskirts in the six regions of the Coastal Development Zone.
Benefits
The CEO elaborated that CODA Drive has many economic and social benefits including but not limited to the income earning opportunities for thousands of Ghanaian families as well as reduction in road crashes and consequent reduction in injury and death. CODA Drive is being funded under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP).
In a move to deepen stakeholder engagement and enhance eradication of poverty among fisher folk, the Coastal Development Authority (CODA), on Sunday, 18th October, 2020, held a mega stakeholder forum to interact with players in the artisanal fishing industry. Specifically, participants included fishermen, fishmongers, porters and traders in the fisheries value chain. There were also representatives from the National Fish Processors and Traders Association of Ghana (NAFTA), premix fuel committees, landing beach committees among others. More than 4000 participants took part in the forum.
Stimulus Package
The purpose of the event was to engage the fisher folk on initiatives being implemented by government through the Authority to give them a boost in their trades.
Enlightening participants, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CODA, Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib outlined initiatives by the Authority designed to ameliorate the standard of living of fishers and their families. Emphasising government’s commitment to help equip fishers, Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib reiterated that a 40 horsepower engine with a market price of 20,000 Cedis is being offered to fishers at 10,000 Cedis while a 15 horsepower engine which is being sold in the open market for 14,500 Cedis is being offered to fishers at 5,000 Cedis. He added that fishers will also receive flexible financial support from the CODA Credit Union at negligible interest rates to empower their businesses financially. Regarding transportation of fish from landing beaches to processing sites and markets, the CEO revealed that CODA has been directed by the President to provide tricycles to fishmongers on hire purchase to facilitate smooth and safe movement of fish produce.
Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah encouraged participants to take advantage of government interventions to improve their lives and that of their families. Referring to government’s flagship Free SHS, the Mayor asked participants to desist from involving children of school-going age in fishing and rather enrol them in school for a better future. Using himself as an example, Hon. Adjei Sowah expressed hope that, “if today a grandson of a fisherman is Mayor of Accra, then President Akufo-Addo is telling you that your child can also become President of the nation”. The Mayor urged participants to eschew limiting beliefs and practices that inhibit their progress and rather focus on taking advantage of opportunities being offered by the government.
CEO of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST), Mr. Edwin Provencal implored the fisher folk to focus on their individual and family development by availing themselves of the economic and social opportunities available to them through the initiative of central government under President Akufo-Addo as well as other focused interventions by CODA designed to improve their lives.
Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor from Mapan Medical Supplies Limited. For bulk purchase and enquiry, please contact 0244360559
Greater Accra Regional Minster, Hon. Ishmael Ashitey, on Friday 26th June, 2020 cut sod for the redevelopment and construction of Dodowa and Asutuare markets respectively in the Shai Osudoku Constituency. The projects are funded by the Coastal Development Authority (CODA) as part of the constituency’s allocation of one million dollars under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme (IPEP) of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives (MSDI).
Addressing chiefs and people of the constituency at the ground-breaking ceremony, Hon. Ashitey thanked CODA for approving the projects. According to him, it was his “cherished expectation that, this project will improve the economic well-being of the people, generate more revenue for the Assembly and bring the desired development activities to this Municipality”. He highlighted that the “COVID-19 outbreak has exposed the safety and security challenges in our markets and the urgent need to have modern markets to deal with” the pressing socioeconomic challenges confronting Shai Osudoku constituents, most of whom are engaged in petty trading, fishing, farming and other informal sector occupations.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Shai Osudoku Municipal Assembly, Hon. Daniel Akuffo was elated to see the projects take off as they had been on the drawing board for more than two decades. He expressed gratitude to the Authority for the projects, adding that it is “in the pursuit of enhancing the income level of our people and also to sustain agricultural and industrial productivity that the Assembly has prioritized the re-development and construction of both markets at Dodowa and Asutuare”. Hon. Akuffo called on constituents to rally and work together for the success of the projects.
Dodowa Market
The new Dodowa Market complex will have forty (40) lockable shops, forty (40) open shops and a crèche. The ground will also be paved to make it convenient and sanitary for traders to ply their trade.
Asutuare Market
The first phase of the Asutuare Market, which includes forty (40) open sheds, has been completed. The second phase, for which sod was cut, will have forty (40) lockable shops, a crèche with the ground paved to make it safe and serene.
Early Pregnancy test kit from Mapan Medical Supplies Limited. Call 0244360559 for bulk purchase and enquiry
Financial Support to traders
In a statement, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CODA, Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib made it known that the Authority, through the CODA Credit Union, will provide microcredit facilities to traders to empower them to boost their businesses to continue to take care of their families since most traders are breadwinners of their families. He encouraged potential beneficiaries of the support to endeavor to repay within the stipulated period to ensure sustainability of the initiative.
Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib also assured that, in line with the CODA’s local content policy, the contractor for the projects will be required to recruit artisans and other workers from the Shai Osudoku to enable the constituents to benefit from the income-earning opportunities that the construction works will offer.
CODA Wear Your Mask campaign
The Authority, through the Regional Minister, presented 2000 facemasks each to residents of Dodowa and Asutuare communities. The items were received by representatives of market women, Muslim community, clergy, traditional authorities, Ghana Police and people living with disability. CODA is running an intensive public education campaign on COVID-19 and distributing PPEs to identified vulnerable people within the Coastal Development Zone as a way to help stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Coastal Development Authority (CODA) and the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council have encouraged the Ghana Police Service to strictly enforce Executive Instrument 164 which makes it mandatory for all Ghanaians to wear face covering in their interaction with people as a way to stop the spread of coronavirus. The call was made when the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Authority and the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Ishmael Ashitey presented 2000 facemasks and 200 bottles of 250ml hand sanitizers to the Greater Accra Regional Police Command on Thursday 25th June, 2020.
Public Education
Addressing a small gathering of Police Officers and the media at the premises of the Greater Accra Regional Police, the CEO commended the Police for prioritizing public education on issues relating to the pandemic. He also praised them for rising to the occasion to enforce the new law on compulsory wearing of face covering, an effort which has seen the arrest of some people who were found without facemasks in Accra. He noted that, as an Authority, CODA will continue to do its part by raising public awareness and supporting the most vulnerable with PPEs to stop the spread of the virus.
Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib emphasised that the power to enforce the new law remains in the hands of the Police and as such it was important to support Police personnel to continue to efficiently carry out that task albeit with utmost protection against the virus, hence the presentation.
Enforcement of law is key
In his speech, Hon Ashitey, who doubles as the Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), thanked CODA for the gesture and called on other public organisations as well as private corporate bodies to emulate the example of CODA to support law enforcement agencies to stem the tide of the pandemic. He added that “it is significant to point out that, education and enforcement of wearing of mask has become necessary with the coming into effect of E.I 164 and for that matter, there is the urgent need for us to lend our support to Ghana Police Service in the discharge of their duties”.
Greater Accra Regional Commander of Police, DCOP Mr. Frederick Adu Anim thanked the CEO and Regional Minister for their generousity towards the Regional Police Command. He assured that, the Police will strictly enforce E.I 164 to ensure strict compliance with the law for the next three months that it will be in place.
Executive Instrument 164
HE Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in accordance with powers granted him under the Imposition of Restrictions Act, 2020 (Act 1012) signed and gazetted a new Executive Instrument (E.I 164) on June 15, 2020 which has made it mandatory to wear face masks for the next three (3) months. The law shall apply in all parts of Ghana and failure to comply will result in a prison sentence of four to 10 years or a fine of GH¢12,000 to GH¢60,000, or both.
The Coastal Development Authority (CODA) on Tuesday, 16th June, 2020 cut sod for commencement of construction works for three projects in the Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency in the Western Region. The projects form part of developmental interventions earmarked by the Authority based on a needs assessment and which form part of the constituency’s allocation of one million dollars under the Infrastructure for Poverty eradication Programme (IPEP) of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives (MSDI).
In an interaction with the media, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CODA, Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib said the projects were in fulfillment of assurances made by H E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to accelerate economic and social development by providing each constituency with an annual allocation of one million dollars.
Astroturf
At Cyanide Estates community, a FIFA standard artificial pitch will be constructed to promote youth and sports development. The multipurpose astroturf will also be used by the Chiefs and people for social events such as durbars, weddings, festivals among others. At the ceremony the contractor assured that the project will be expedited to be completed in six months. He asked residents to cooperate and provide the needed support during the construction.
The Apinto Gyasehene, Nana Adarkwa who chaired the event thanked H E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and CODA for the intervention and praised the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem Constituency, Hon Mireku Duker and the Municipal Chief Executive for working hard to ensure the development of the area.
Six-unit classroom block
The CEO of CODA and the MP later joined the Paramount Chief and elders of Nsuaem at the palace of Nana Kwabena Adade II for a brief interaction before cutting sod at the proposed site for the construction of a six-unit classroom block which is intended to be built in place of an old dilapidated school block. The Paramount Chief, Nana Kwabena Adade II expressed his appreciation to the government, particularly CODA for coming to the aid of Nsuaem with the school project, adding that the intervention will greatly boost development of the community, among other similar interventions to make essential social services accessible to residents.
Modern CHPS compound
The CEO, MP and Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly, later joined the Esamanhene, Nana Kwankyen Panyin II at the proposed site for the construction of a modern Community-based Health Planning and Services at Esaman to cut sod for the project.
The CEO revealed that the modern CHPS compound will consist of a hospital with a bungalow for the resident medical doctor. Nana Esamanhene praised the MP for being industrious in undertaking development. He testified about other projects that Esaman is benefitting from, including a water closet toilet project, through the instrumental leadership of Hon Duker.
Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib, at each location, educated the locals on the COVID-19 pandemic and was also assisted by Hon Duker to distribute CODA-branded facemasks and hand sanitizers.
Obrempong-Nana Kwaku Ampomah 