CODA Awards 1,473  Project Contracts  For Execution In Six Regions

The Coastal Development Authority (CODA) has since its inception awarded a total of 1473 project contracts for execution in six (6)  operational jurisdictions of the Authority.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CODA, Jerry Ahmed Shaib made this statement when his outfit met the press in Accra.

As part of achieving the principle of sustainable development and bringing development closer to the doorstep of the citizenry, the President, H.E, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on 2nd January 2018, signed into Law the Act establishing the Coastal Development Authority.

The coastal development authority (CODA) Act 2017 Act 961, defines the coastal development zone to include the Greater Accra Region, the Central Region, the Western Region, and the Volta Region. 

However, with the creation of new regions in 2019 with Western North and Oti from the Western Region and Volta Region respectively, the operational jurisdiction of the Authority is now made up of six (6) regions, namely; Western Region, Western North Region, Central Region, Greater Accra Region, Volta Region, and Oti Region.

Mr. Shaib hinted that, as part of the Government’s Agenda for Jobs, leading to creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunity for All for the period; 2017-2024 stipulates that, To ensure that, the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Program IPEP initiative and other local initiatives are implemented in a well-coordinated manner, the government had to set up CODA as the main socio-economic development vehicle for the zone.

"Our interventions have been in the following main areas namely; Education, Health, Water for All, Sanitation for All, Sports Development, Economic Infrastructure,  Roads and Bridges!", Mr. Shaib emphasized.

The CEO gave the regional breakdown of the projects as follows; In Western North Region, we have 125 projects in Greater Accra, we have 380 projects. In Western Region we have 220 projects, in the Volta Region we have 229 projects, In Oti Region, we have 107 projects. And in the Central Region, we have 412.

He disclosed that CODA has concluded at least a total of 129 of these projects across the zone, thus; the six 6 regions and under nine constituencies have been completed and the remaining ones are at various appreciable stages of completion.

Mr. Shaib disclosed that CODA through a strategic arrangement took delivery of some Bajaj Quote pro-poor vehicles and distributed the same to "Okada" riders as well as some Commercial Drivers. He further stated that the intervention was based on a hire purchase agreement that was signed with beneficiaries.

According to him, the Authority has also procured and distributed over three thousand 3000Pieces of subsidized Outboard Motors to fisher folks including inland fishers.

The Coastal Development Authority also established the CODA Credit Union. This union according to the CEO, is a nonprofit financial institution being managed by its members with a focus on Traders, Fishers, Commercial Drivers, Food Vendors, Hawkers, and Small Scale Farmers.

He mentioned that his outfit through the CODA Health Train program provided free health screening, medication, and surgeries for Fibroid, hernia, and other minor surgeries.

He added that "So far, in collaboration with National Health Authority NHIA, free  National Health Insurance NHISCards through registrations have been provided to over 100,000 vulnerable people in the zone", he added.

Mr. Shaib seized the opportunity to list some of the challenges confronting the authority 

as follows; the prevalence of the COVID 19 pandemic and its impact on planned activities and programs, nonavailability of land as well as land title litigation in areas earmarked for some CODA projects.

The above notwithstanding, We are currently engaging with private sector players as well as various embassies and high commissions in Ghana to form new partnerships for more projects,he said.