Ghana’s Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah has officially inaugurated the new Board of Directors of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), marking a significant restructuring of the authority responsible for managing Ghana’s development partnerships with the United States.
The ceremony, held at the seat of government, brings together high-level government officials to steer the organization that oversees, manages and implements programmes under the Compact Agreement signed with the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the United States of America.
The newly inaugurated board is chaired by Charles Abugre Akelyira and includes five ministers of state, demonstrating the government’s commitment to integrating MiDA’s operations with broader national development priorities.
The ministerial composition reflects the multifaceted nature of MiDA’s mandate. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Minister of Finance, brings crucial fiscal oversight to the board, while John Abdulai Jinapor’s presence as Minister of Energy aligns with Ghana’s energy sector development goals.
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey’s role as Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection emphasizes the authority’s commitment to inclusive development, and Dr. Dominic Ayine’s position as Attorney General and Minister of Justice ensures legal compliance and governance standards.
Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, completes the ministerial representation, highlighting the commercial and trade dimensions of MiDA’s development programs. This diverse ministerial involvement signals the government’s intention to leverage MiDA’s resources across multiple sectors of the economy.
The objectives of the Authority are to oversee, manage, and implement the Programmes under the Millennium Challenge Account for poverty reduction through economic growth, making it a critical vehicle for Ghana’s development aspirations.
The authority has previously successfully completed implementing the first Compact agreement between Ghana and the Millennium Challenge Corporation in 2012, establishing its track record in managing large-scale development initiatives.
Under the new leadership structure, MiDA is positioned to take on an expanded role. MiDA’s expanded mandate includes oversight and management of National Development Programmes beyond the Millennium Challenge Corporation partnerships, suggesting the authority will have broader responsibilities in coordinating Ghana’s development efforts.
The inauguration comes at a time when Ghana is actively seeking to strengthen its development partnerships and improve the efficiency of aid utilization. The inclusion of key cabinet ministers on the board creates direct channels between MiDA’s operations and government policy implementation, potentially improving coordination and reducing bureaucratic delays.
Chairman Charles Abugre Akelyira, who leads this distinguished board, will oversee the strategic direction of an organization that has become increasingly important in Ghana’s development landscape.
The board’s composition suggests a shift toward more integrated governance, where development programs are aligned with ministerial priorities and national development goals.
This restructuring represents the current administration’s approach to development cooperation, emphasizing ministerial involvement and cross-sectoral coordination in managing international partnerships and development resources.
