EU grants Ghana 300m Euros

Mr Alessandro Mariani, first Secretary of the European Union (EU) said Ghana is to benefit from 300 million Euros grant under the Cotonou Agreement for the next five years.

The grant is the contribution of member states to support EU-assisted programmes in the country.

Mr Mariani, who is the Economic Adviser to the Delegation of the European Commission in Ghana, said this during a farewell call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyeman in Accra.

He commended the government for its co-operation and support for EU programmes particularly its involvement in development projects.

Mr Owusu-Agyeman urged the EU not only to open its market to developing countries but also to support their efforts in developing, increasing and improving the production base of manufacturing industry.

He said Ghana is particularly interested in value added products for export. Mr Owusu-Agyeman repeated his call for a Marshal Plan for the development of Africa to give meaning to democracy.

He said, "democracy is meaningless, unless it assists the people to improve upon their living conditions."

Mr Mariani leaves Ghana after a four-year duty tour.