NEW CANADIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER CALLS ON HON. MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC PLANNING

The new Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Darren Schemmer has paid a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Kwadwo Baah Wiredu. He was also accompanied by Mr. Archie Book, the Director for CIDA.

Their discussions focused on energy, the oil discovery, education and Canada’s support to the Multi Donor Budget Support.

Hon. Minister acknowledged CIDA’s assistant to Ghana’s development efforts which are geared towards achieving equitable and sustainable poverty reduction. He also added that, Canada has rich expertise and experience in the exploration and production of oil and the energy sectors which Ghana could benefit from through effect partnership.

On the oil discovery, he said government is working on putting a legal framework in place with the support from Norway, Canada and some other oil producing countries.

Mr. Schemmer said Canada's interest in Ghana cuts across several sectors, which was evident in her long standing support to many projects and programmes through Canadian International Development Assistance (CIDA). He also pledged his country’s continued support for Ghana.

He also added that, Canada’s support for Ghana in 2008 amounts to about 43 million US dollars which would be disbursed under various programs like the Multi-Donor Budgetary Support (MDBS) and other national initiatives such as: the Food and Agriculture Budgetary Support, the District Wide Assistance Project, the Community-Driven Initiative for Food Security and the Ghana Environment Management Programme.

CIDA’s bilateral projects are primarily focused on three northern regions: Northern, Upper east and Upper West.

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