Accra, Feb.10, GNA – Mr Frederic Clavier, French Ambassador to Ghana, on Friday said the French Government would continue to support the decentralization and local governance process in the country.

He commended the Government of Ghana for formulating a comprehensive decentralisation policy to strengthen local government institutions.

Mr Clavier said these when he led a three-member French delegation to pay a courtesy call on Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Ghana’s Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, to discuss progress of the decentralisation process in Ghana, in Accra.

Mr Clavier said the French had also practiced centralized and decentralized systems of government, and were abreast with the gains and challenges of the systems.

He noted that the French Government through Agence Francaise de Development, had been a sponsor of the District Development Fund for Ghana.

Mr Clavier said: “More recently the fund awarded 40.5 million Euros to the Ghana Government for the Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project, targeting cities like Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Tamale and Ho”.

He explained that the Project is aimed at improving the living conditions of people in urban areas, to promote sustainable development from a financial, environmental, and social perspective.

Mr Clavier said it also sought to support urban development programmes that give widespread access to essential services, build the financial, management and ownership capacities of cities, support economic activities and local employment, and limit the negative impact of urban extension on peripheral ecosystems.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo lauded the cordial relationship between Ghana and France and expressed the hope that the French Government would continue to support Ghana to address its urbanization challenges.

He said Government of Ghana was expanding the frontiers of decentralisation to meet the growing demands of the citizenry.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said Parliament passed the Local Government (Amendment) Bill, 2012, to enable geographical areas that meet the criteria to be declared municipalities.

He said Government was committed to the decentralisation process, hence the introduction of the composite budget system.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo called for logistical support to enable the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, to monitor and evaluate the performance of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies.