British govt to continue budgetary support for Ghana

Accra, March 30, GNA- The British Government has decided to provide 80 million pounds as its support for the Ghanaian budget this year, regardless of the turbulent financial crisis British and other world economies are currently facing.

This was disclosed by Dr Nicholas Westcott, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, at a forum attended by a largely Ghanaian audience in London last Friday.

A statement from the Ghana High Commission in London on Monday said the forum was jointly sponsored by the British High Commission in Accra and the Ghana High Commission in London.

Dr Westcott said the British government had steadfastly been supporting Ghanaian governments because it was convinced that the governments would honestly apply such funds to improve the living conditions of the people instead of misappropriating them. He said due diligence carried out by the British government on utilization of aids had been positive.

He praised Ghanaians for growing the economy whilst that of Britain shrank, but gave the assurance that the UK British government would continue to support the country.

For instance, he said, his country would invest one billion dollars into the development of the Jubilee Oil Fields in Ghana as her contribution towards the prospecting for more oil deposits. On immigration, Dr Westcott said that policies had tended to benefit Ghanaians but admitted that although his country had opened its doors to other nationals, care was taken to ensure that only genuine people were allowed in.

"Britain, like all countries, would ensure that terrorists who have no regard for human lives are not allowed into the country." Dr Westcott insisted observed that to achieve this, the British Government would, with effect from April 1 2009, introduce significant reforms in the acquisition of visas and entry permits to the United Kingdom.

He therefore charged Ghanaians who were desirous of inviting their relations to the United Kingdom to avail themselves of the requirements and strictly comply with them. 30 March 09