Australian Government Supports Grassroots Development

The Australian High Commission in Ghana is working in partnership with 29 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and two others from Mali and Sierra Leone to implement development projects that will benefit a number of communities in the three countries.

The 29 NGOs, selected from among 400 after rigorous competitive process, have, therefore, benefitted from a financial assistance package under the Australian Government’s Development Grants Programme for the 2009/2010 financial year.

The entire package amounts to approximately five hundred and fifty-five thousand, six hundred and seventy-seven Australian Dollars (AUD $ 555,676.80) which is equivalent to seven hundred and forty-three thousand, one hundred and twenty-five Ghanaian Cedis (GH¢743,125.00).

Most of the projects to be undertaken by the recipient organisations are in the areas of education and refurbishment of school buildings, the provision of street lights and potable water, health and sanitation. The others are the generation of solar energy, skills training projects, assistance to three women’s co-operatives and human rights advocacy.

Disbursing the grants at a ceremony in Accra yesterday, during which all the three grants projects of the Australian Grant Programme in Ghana were launched, the Australian High Commissioner in Ghana, His Excellency William Williams, said that the assistance provided by Australia reflects the Government of Australia’s commitment to broadening and deepening her engagement with Africa across a broad spectrum of issues.

These issues, Mr. Williams said, include enhanced trade and commercial investments, strengthened diplomatic links and increased development assistance.

He said that other areas of assistance, which Australia will be extending to Africa, will help build African’s human resource capacity through expanded scholarship programmes in areas of Australian expertise such as agriculture, natural resource management, water and health, trade policy and economic governance.

Mr. Williams announced that the Government of Australia has, therefore, increased its development assistance to Africa by 40 per cent to AUD $163.9 million for the 2009/2010 financial year.

The three grants projects which were simultaneously launched are the Direct Aid Programme (DAP), Africa Regional Small Activities Scheme (SAS) and the Australian Human Rights Small Grant Scheme.

The three programmes combined, represent the largest amount of funding provided by Australia to its grants programmes in Ghana since the Mission re-opened in the year 2004.

Source: ISD (G.D. Zaney)
Picture: GNA