THE GHANA-GERMANY BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS OPEN

Hon. Seth Terkper, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning yesterday opened the Ghana-Germany Biennial Bilateral Consultations in Accra.

The Consultations are in preparation for negotiations between the two Governments and is expected to determine the direction of the bilateral cooperation for the next three years.

The Minister acknowledged with appreciation, the positive results that the over four decades of Development Cooperation activities have brought to the two countries. Adding that, “it is worthy to note that the excellent long-standing relations between Ghana and Germany have earned Ghana a Priority Partner Country Status from the Government of Germany”.

The Federal Republic of Germany is one of Ghana’s key Bilateral Development partners in terms of volume, quality and diversity of development assistance; he said adding that over 1 billion Euro has been contributed for projects in key sectors of the Ghanaian Economy in context of financial and technical co-operation by the German Government over the years.

The Minister was confident that this year’s bilateral negotiations will provide support in areas like agriculture and food security, private sector, democracy, good governance and decentralization. Hon. Terkper emphasized that the Water Sector is government’s priority in the social services sector, as such the need for it to be prioritized in the negotiations.

Mr. Daniel Alker, head of the Delegation, West Africa Division, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) commended the government of Ghana for the practice of good governance and called for the need for government commitment to reforms.

He also emphasized the need for a unilateral approach to development projects and programmes by both countries. He promised Germany’s commitment to Ghana as a long-lasting and reliable development partner.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr. Hannah Bisiw, Nana Juaben-Boaten Siriboe, Chief Director of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning and other officials from various MDAs.