Canadian Minister highlights support for Ghana

Ms Susan Whelan, Canadian Minister for International Co-operation, on Wednesday announced three million Canadian dollars contribution to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).

She also announced additional 1.6 million Canadian dollars assistance to the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Regional Office in Accra, a statement issued by the Canadian High Commission in Accra on Thursday said.

Ms Whelan, who ends a two-day visit to Ghana on Thursday, said the contribution to the KAIPTC would be delivered through Canada's Pearson Peacekeeping Centre.

The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, which has extensive experience in implementing peace support training programmes in Africa, would utilise a "training of trainers" approach to develop curriculum relevant to the needs of West Africa and to boost the skills of African trainers at the KAIPTC.

"Canada's support will enable the Kofi Annan Centre to provide relevant and effective training for military personnel and civilians, strengthening regional security and making communities safer," Ms Whelan said.

"The Government of Canada is delivering on its pledge to help Africans prevent and resolve violent conflicts," she said.

The statement said assistance to the Centre was part of the country's 15 million Canadian dollars commitment to support peace and security among the 15-member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Ms Whelan, who arrived in Accra on Wednesday as part of a six-day West African tour, has met with President John Agyekum Kufuor to discuss Ghana's development plans in the context of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

Ghana is among the nine low-income countries, which have been selected as countries of focus for increased aid from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Ms Whelan also announced the details of Canada's additional 40 million Canadian dollars contribution to the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) specifically for research in Africa.

CGIAR is an association that contributes to food security and poverty reduction in developing countries through a network of 16 research centres around the world.

The statement said the 1.6 million Canadian dollars contribution to the International Water Management Institute's Regional Office in Africa is part of Canadian government's contribution to CGIAR.

It said the funding for CGIAR was originally announced by Prime Minister Chretien at the G8 Summit in Kananaskisas part of the Canada Fund for Africa. The Fund is intended to support the objectives of the NEPAD and the G8 Africa Action Plan.

"Throughout Africa, Canada will provide 36 million Canadian dollars in new core funding, over the next three years, to CGIAR for the long-term agricultural research needed to make the breakthroughs that will improve the lives of the majority of Africans who live and work in rural areas," Ms Whelan said.

"CIDA's support will concentrate on the special needs of smallholder farmers and women producers."

The statement said the remaining four million Canadian dollars would be directed towards specialised programmes supporting research in improving livestock agriculture; helping farmers in mountainous areas and supporting research to ensure that the needs of women farmers were addressed in areas such as plant breeding and crop management.

CIDA's major programmes in Ghana concentrate on food security, governance and the water sector.

The statement said Canada's bilateral development assistance strives to meet the overarching objective of poverty reduction.

In its programming, CIDA maintains a primary focus on three of the poorest regions of Ghana - the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions.