Ghana, Denmark Sign Agreements

Ghana and Denmark yesterday signed two agreements to support private sector development and sustain the elimination of the worst forms of child labour in the cocoa sector.

The agreements were sealed after High Level Consultations between delegates from both countries.

Mr. Seth Terpker, Deputy Minister for Finance and Economic Planning signed for Ghana while Mr. Stig Barlying, Danish Ambassador to Ghana initialled for Denmark.

He said the government welcomes the support to boost private sector, emphasising that the government is working to create a stable environment for businesses to thrive.

Under the Support to Private Sector Development (SPSD), Denmark will provide 400 million Danish Kroner (approximately GH¢115 million) to support efforts at private sector development from January 2010 to December 2014.

The overall development objective of this programme is the creation of decent and sustainable jobs.

Key partners in the implementation of this programme will be the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, as well as other private sector institutions such as business associations, the ARB Apex Bank and the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa.

The second agreement covers support for the elimination of worst forms of child labour in the cocoa sector.

The 2.1 million Danish Kroner (approximately GH¢607,000) support package will run for 12 months in partnership with the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare's National Programme on the Elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in Cocoa ((NPECLC) remediation project.

Ms. Mette Knudsen, Head of Africa Department of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who led the Danish delegation, lauded the progress the government is making in the political and economic transformation of Ghana.

The Danish delegation expressed satisfaction with efforts in the area of growth and development and successive government's tenacity to combat poverty.

Both delegations expressed satisfaction with the progress of implementation of Danish-Ghanaian development cooperation in health, local government service delivery, decentralisation, general budget support, good governance, human rights and private sector development.

Source: GNA