Japan Leads Aid to Ghana

Japan has become Ghana's number one aid donor with its latest non- project grant worth ?120 billion, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. James Victor Gbeho, announced in Accra last Wednesday.

Speaking at the signing ceremony Mr. Gbeho said Japan had been encouraged by Ghana's commitment to sustainable economic and social development in line with the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP.

The non-project grant aid, which amounts to US$19 million, this year will be aimed at the health and education sectors. The Japanese ambassador to Ghana, Mr. Hiromu Nitta noted that this was the latest addition to a Japanese aid programme, which has been since 1988. To date, he said, the total amount given is 960 billion cedis.

The aid comes after the Ghanaian government took painful economic measures in an attempt to stabilise the economy, which makes the development programme, and particularly the private activities within it, more meaningful, he noted. Mr. Nitta said the grant aid would require Ghana to import materials and machinery for development and economic activity.

Expressing his government's hopes for peace and political stability, the ambassador pointed out that ?1.2 billion of the aid package will be used to ensure the elections are carried out smoothly and peacefully. The money will be used to prepare photo ID cards and for activities to increase public awareness of the electioneering process.