SIGNING AGREEMENT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OF GHANA AND FRANCE

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Kwadwo Baah- Wiredu and the Resident Manager of the Agence Française de Développement, Mr. Benoît Lebeurre, have signed three agreements for a cumulative amount of 38.6 million euros. His Excellency Mr. Pierre Jacquemot, French Ambassador to Ghana, witnessed the ceremony.

The two agreements are a soft loan of 17 million euros and second, a grant of 1.6 million euros provided by the Agence Française de Developpement to finance the Peri- Urban, Rural and Small Town Water and Sanitation Project in the Brong Ahafo Region for a total amount of 18.6 million euros.

Mr. Kwadwo Baah – Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, who signed on behalf of the Government of Ghana, said the loan would attract one per cent interest and would be paid in 20 years with additional 10 years grace period, and a maturity period of 30 years.

He also said that between 2005 and now, the AFD has committed more that 117.9 million euros in concessional loans and 4.7 euros in grant to a number of projects in the country including the Multi Donors Budget Support and the rice sector development project.

Mr. Baah-Wiredu finally pointed out that the quality of France’s support to Ghana has been quite outstanding and the quantum of aid package the country is receiving has increase and therefore thanked the French government for its support in reducing poverty and facilitating growth.

The French Ambassador said, the project was intended to improve the living conditions and health status for the population of 19 districts in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. He added that the project would also provide technical, logistical and managerial support to all stake holders (community, the public authorities and the private sector)

He added that the project would also tackle emerging challenges by providing for example; innovative and pilot answers to issues related to water supply and sanitation in peri –urban areas. He also added that the project would eventually conform with institutional set up to the national implementation procedures established by the Government of Ghana.

The Minister of state at the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Godfrey Bayon Tangu in his brief remarks said, the over all objective of the Urban Transport Project is to improve urban mobility in participating urban areas in Ghana specifically in Accra and Kumasi and intended to improve urban mobility and considerable reduction of traffic congestion within Accra and Kumasi.

Minister of State for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Madam Cecilia Dapaah in her brief acknowledged the French government’s assistance to Ghana over the years most especially, the guinea worm endemic areas like East Gonja and Kumbungu among others and that her Ministry would see to the success of the project.

The project involves the construction of 112 hand –dug wells, 621 boreholes and 23 piped systems for portable water supply infrastructure corresponding to the rural small town as well as peri- urban, population’ demand.

It also involves the development and promotion of sanitation through the preparation of sanitation strategic plans for each District and would ensure sustainability.

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