Japan supports Ghana with 14.4 million dollars

Accra, March 2, GNA - Ghana and Japan on Wednesday signed two agreements in respect of Budget Support for Ghana's Health Sector and Food Aid for the 2010 flood victims.

Under the agreements, Japan would provide budget support of about 200 million Japanese Yen (about 2.4 million dollars) to Ghana's health sector and one billion Japanese Yen (about 12 million dollars) in food aid.

The health sector support is the first of its kind in Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Ghana, and expected to contribute to better implementation of the Health Sector Medium Term Development Plan for improved health service delivery in Ghana. Mr Keiichi Katakami, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, who signed on behalf of Japan, said the food aid was in response to a request from the Government to support the 340,000 victims affected by the floods nationwide.

"The food aid is an additional support to the emergency relief package provided by Japanese Government to meet the short term needs of those affected," he said.

Mr Katakami said the health sector support was to help government to implement its medium term development plan for improved results of health service delivery.

"Japan's support together with other partners such as Denmark, Netherlands and the UK will enable the Ministry of Health to finance the funding gaps that exist in the health sector 2011 programme of work," he added. Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, who signed on behalf of Ghana, commended Japan for being one of the first countries to provide relief items to the victims. He expressed appreciation to Mr Katakami for his concern towards the health sector and the grant that would help translate the policies and plans drawn by the Government into concrete and effective actions to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5.