Ghana, Belgium sign agreement for two projects in Central Region

Accra, May 11, GNA - Ghana and Belgium on Thursday signed a concessionary loan agreement for 6.312 million euros to undertake the Elmina Fishing Harbour and Benya Lagoon Restoration Projects in the Central Region.

The amount represents the remaining 50 per cent of the total contract sum of which the initial amount of 6.24 million euros was signed in April 2006.

Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, signed for Ghana while Mr Willy De-Buck, Ambassador Belgium, initialled for his country.

The actual rehabilitation works would consist of remedial dredging and breakwater rehabilitation within the framework of the Elmina Fishing Harbour and Benya Lagoon Restoration projects. The successful execution of the Project would provide safe passage and mooring of fishing vessels and thus enhance the fishing industry of Elmina.

Mr De-Buck said he was impressed about Ghana's performance on the economic and trade fronts, which had prompted the Belgian Government to come to assist and to build on a good bilateral relationship. Mr Baah-Wiredu commended the Belgium government for her continual assistance to Ghana, which had been on the ascendancy since 2004. He said Belgium had assisted the country in various sectors including health, interior and transportation.

The Minister said when the two projects were completed the status of the Lagoon as well as the cultural, social and economic heritage of the local community would be preserved.

He appealed to the Ambassador to help to put Ghana on Belgium's priority countries so that Ghana could enjoy technical assistance and training programmes that country offered. Mr Baah-Wiredu said Belgium was in the process of helping to supply and install electronic and telecommunication systems in Parliament under a five million euro package. The Minister of Water Resources; Works and Housing, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang and the Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, who were present, thanked Belgium for the assistance. Mr Owusu-Agyemang said work on the Elmina Lagoon was time bound and the people could not wait any longer after almost 45 years. He, therefore, reiterated his call on the contractors to work expeditiously to complete it on time. Mr Edumadze noted that construction of the two projects was another landmark in the lives of the people saying; "with these, hope is being restored back to the people". 11 May 06