Spain to Give Ghana $40 million Grant

Ghana is to receive a 40 million dollar grant within a month from the Spanish government to help her in her developmental efforts.

The grant is to be disbursed to the Cardio- Therapy Unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital receiving 10 million dollars while the Children and Maternity department of the Komfo- Anokye -Teaching hospital also will get 10 miliion dollars whilst 10 million goes for the improvement of the Eastern Region water project with the remaining 10 million slated for the provision of equipment for the University of Development Studies (UDS) in the Northern Region.

This was disclosed to newsmen by President John Agyekum Kufour on his return from Valencia Spain where he attended the 36th session of the ADB and the 27th session of the meeting of the African Development Fund (ADB).

The President said, Mr. Osafo-Marfo the finance minister has been invited by the Spanish government for a 100 million dollar grant for the development of Education Health, Tourism and Fisheries .

He described the meeting as successful being the first of its kind outside Africa and which was also attended by President Chissano of Mozambique.

The President said he took the opportunity to address the session where he reminded them that the world had become inter-dependent and that Africa being one of the handicapped continents needs partners in her developmental efforts .

He said the Prime Minister Jose Asner and the King of Spain commended Ghana for going HIPC and pledged to support Ghana 's Economic development and the two expressed their willingness to visit Ghana .

Mr. Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, Foreign Minister said the President held discussions with the Governor of Valencia who agreed to assist Ghana in her social projects and Tourism .

In Madrid, the President held a meeting with a group of investors in fisheries and its allied industries as well as oil and petroleum explorers where the president assured them of the necessary Insurance protection for those who invest in Ghana.

In Italy President Kufuor held meetings with to government officials and was able to secure an agreement to establish an ultra- modern Technical Institution in the country.

At the airport to welcome the president and his entourage was the Vice-president Alhaji Mahama Aliu, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ernest Owusu Poku, and some members of the Diplomatic Corps