Ghana and France sign five million dollar agreement

Accra, Nov, 26, GNA - Ghana and France on Wednesday signed an agreement for five million euros to support Ghana's natural resources sector. The deal signed under the Natural Resource and Environmental Governance (NREG) programme will cover forestry and wildlife, mining as well as environmental protection.

The programme is based on the findings of the Ghana Country Environmental Assessment Study and is expected to enhance sustainable growth and development through the protection of the country's natural resource.

About 50 per cent of Ghana's GDP is derived from the natural resources sectors.

Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning signed for Ghana while Mr Benoit Lebeurre, Resident Manager of the Agence Francaise de Development initialled for France. Dr Osei said the programme was to ensure predictability and sustainability of the forest and wildlife sector and effective forest law enforcement.

He said it was also aimed at improving mining sector revenue collection, management and transparency, address social issues in forest and mining communities and integrate environment consideration across sectors. In addition, it will support efforts to address the emerging oil sector issues and to adopt enhanced extractive industry transparency initiative principles, including resource access, allocation, utilization and revenues in extractive industries.

Dr Osei said governance challenges in those sectors would be strengthened through institutional and legal framework to enhance the country's potential for economic growth and improving the livelihoods of its population by preventing the degradation of its natural capital in the three key sectors.

He said civil society organizations were expected to benefit from the facility to help mitigate any negative socio-economic effects of improved governance on affected communities and provide a platform to strengthen multi-stakeholders dialogue. Mr Francis Hurtut, French Ambassador to Ghana, pledged France continuous support to Ghana. 26 Nov. 08