20100805
africanews

he French government through the French Development Agency is sponsoring the execution of development projects totalling 200 million Euros throughout the West African Nation of Ghana.

The projects, which are mainly on the provision of potable water, electricity and sanitation, are currently being executed in the Brong Ahafo, Ashanti, Northern and Volta Regions.

The Government of Ghana has also signed for an amount of 40.5 Million Euro with the French Government to finance the Ghana Urban Management Pilot Programme (GUMMP) to improve development projects in Kumasi, Sekond-Takoradi, Tamale and Ho.

Mr. Dov Zerah, Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, announced these when he called on Vice President John Dramani Mahama at the Osu Castle, Accra, to introduce himself and outline the Agency's support for Ghana.

He said that this year alone, the Agency was supporting Ghana with 75 Million Euros under the second Urban Environmental and Sanitation project.

"The Kumasi by-pass project and Sokoban wood workers' village in Kumasi, 5,000 woodworkers have been resettled and the Brong Ahafo region over 300,000 people will get access to potable water and good sanitation."

Mr. Zerah also announced that the Agency had signed the first ever 'non sovereign' (without any financial guarantee from the government) loan with Agricultural Development Bank to support 2,750 small scale rubber out-grower farmers.

Vice President Mahama commended the French government for supporting Ghana for the past 25 years.

He said that France alone had contributed about 800 Million Euros towards Ghana's development projects since 1985 and “I am particularly happy, considering the fact that Ghana traditionally is not a French speaking country."

He appealed to member countries of the G8 to fulfil their promises to developing countries to generate more confidence between them in future deliberations.

"The government and people of Ghana deeply appreciate the efforts of France in the building of our infrastructure and I will personally like to commend the French government for the cooperation so far."