Ghana is good news for Africa - UN Rep

Accra (Greater Accra), 6th July 99 -

The UNDP Resident Representative in Ghana, Mr Abdoulie Janneh, has said that Ghana is "good news for Africa" where things are working and she is worth emulating by other countries on the continent.

Ghana's success proves that Africa can make it, he said in a country report at the first meeting of six UNDP Resident Representatives from Africa with senior officials of the UN Industrial Development Organisation in Vienna.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry said the other Representatives came from Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Guinea and Ethiopia.

The statement quoted Mr Janneh as saying UN agencies in Ghana are operating at optimum level and their cooperation was setting the pace for other countries.

UNIDO, he said, has been instrumental in the formulation of Ghana's programme on poverty alleviation and could assist other countries with its service modules in small and medium enterprise development and women entrepreneurs, among others.

"Against the background of bold economic policy reforms, Ghana has enjoyed a healthy economic growth of five per cent and was aiming at double-digit rates."

Mr Janneh said in addition to its traditional exports of cocoa and gold, Ghana is exploring new non-traditional exports and becoming the gateway to West Africa.

He said due to constant consultation between government and development partners through the Consultative Group process, almost every agency is prepared to aasist Ghana in its development programme.

The UNDP, for instance, is assisting Ghana in the area of poverty reduction and governance with 30 million dollars for 1998-2000.

In addition, the UN Country Team is working with the government to produce the second Ghana Common Country Assessment/UN Development Assistance Framework in tandem with the World Bank Comprehensive Development Framework.

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