Denmark Grants Ghana $85m

The Government of Denmark has provided 55 million dollars grant for projects in the water and sanitation sectors next year. This is in addition to 30 million dollars grant for the private sector.

Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Vice President announced this when Mr Flemming Bjoek Pederson, Danish Ambassador in Ghana, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu.

Alhaji Mahama said Ghana and Denmark had had excellent relationship and support from Denmark had been in the health, infrastructure, energy and education with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) playing a leading role.

He expressed the Government's appreciation to Denmark for the support, good friendly and genuine partnership it had rendered in the water and sanitation sectors.

The Vice President said the only way to develop was through democratic rule, rule of law, good governance and decentralization for which Denmark had provided support for the empowerment of the decentralized institutions.

Alhaji Mahama said the Government's major concern was to create an enabling environment for the Golden Age of Business and appealed to Mr Pederson to endeavour to attract Danish investors to Ghana.

He said Denmark should prevail on stakeholders in international trade to create fair and level playing grounds for developing countries in international trade in order for them to improve on their growth rate and reduce poverty.

Mr Pederson said development of the private sector in Ghana had been a major concern of the Danish Government and the Embassy would soon embark on a programme to establish small and medium scale enterprises in areas other than the regional and district capitals to create more avenues for employment.

He said contract for the financing of sections of the Accra - Kumasi dual carriageway by the Danish Government would be signed in Accra next Tuesday.