Ghana still has huge development needs - Danish Ambassador

Accra, Oct. 19, GNA - Mr Stig Barlyng, Danish Ambassador to Ghana, on Tuesday, said Ghana needs more development support from international non governmental organizations despite newspaper statistics that it is gradually becoming a middle income nation.

He explained: "The fact that the country now records some riches does not necessarily mean development. Ghana still has huge development needs especially in some of the rural areas."

Mr Barlyng said this at a meeting when Prince Joachim, a Patron of Care International Denmark, a non governmental organization that advocates for the most vulnerable in society, paid a visit to its partner - Care International Ghana, to familiarise with Care Denmark funded projects.

The Ambassador, therefore called on Care International Denmark to give continued support to its partner in Ghana to help, especially, in rural development.

Prince Joachim is on a week's visit to the country with an entourage of Danish journalists to attract public and media attention to development challenges in Ghana.

He is scheduled to visit Tamale in the Northern Region, Takoradi in the Western Region and Cape-Coast in the Central Region to experience the impact that Care International Ghana has had on the communities.

The prince will pay special attention to poverty issues, Natural Resource Depletion, Climate Change, and Agriculture as well as Food Security issues.

He said: "I am happy to see how Care International Ghana's work is carried out and hope to say a big thank you to the staff in Ghana after the field visit."

Mr Niels Tofte, Leader of the Danish delegation, expressed happiness about the collaboration between Care Ghana and Denmark and said he was hopeful to see the organization impact more lives in Ghana.

Mr Afurika Juvenal, Assistant Country Director, Care Ghana, said his organization's focus in the country is to help restore dignity to the vulnerable, help them get access to services and give them a voice to articulate their concerns.

He said the organization spent about 10 million Euros annually on its development projects and pointed out that fighting poverty is a challenge in itself.

"We are working towards changing mindsets in Ghana," Mr Juvenal stressed.