Ghana spent only 10 percent of her facility
Accra (Greater Accra)
04 December 2002- A two-day Ghana-German economic, development, and technical
cooperation consultations has ended with both sides expressing optimism and
determination to make the Ghanaian economy more viable.
The dialogue focused
on three areas - democracy- civil society, public administration; agriculture
and food security; economic reform and development of a market economy. Both
sides reconfirmed the solid basis of friendship and agreed that the three areas
were the ones where German economic and technical know-how would influence
Ghana's situation.
The Ghanaian
delegation was led by Dr Gheysika A. Agambila, Deputy Minister of Finance,
while Dr Andreas Pfeil, Deputy Head of Division of the Federal Ministry for
Economic Cooperation, led the German delegation.
Economic and
technical Cooperation between Ghana and Germany has been an old one and today,
German ODA commitments to Ghana amounted to a total of 860 million Euros.
For 2001-2002, 45
million Euros were committed to projects of financial and technical cooperation
of which 30 million euros were loans and grants and 15 million Euros fell under
technical cooperation under GTZ.
GRi…/
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra)
04 December 2002- The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) on Tuesday
launched an electronic data interchange platform, the Ghana Community Network
Service (GCNet), to reduce processing time for trade and customs documentation
at all the country's entry points.
The GCNet system
would prevent fraud improve revenue collection without unduly hindering
legitimate trade. The system launched by the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama
is to improve the attainment of the objectives of government's Gateway
Programme aimed at attracting foreign direct investment to accelerate
export-led growth, enhance revenue mobilisation and remove constraints to trade
development.
The Chairman of
GCNet, Mr Nortey K. Omaboe said it allows electronic integration of cargo
manifest details and enhances monitoring of consignment movement, as well as
centralizing the verification of entries.
He said it would also
ensure that the Declarations and Manifests by Freight Forwarders or Ship Owners
can be submitted expeditiously on a 24-hour basis on a single contact point
thereby eliminating delays and cost associated with Customs clearances.
"The GCNet will
ensure that goods are cleared through Customs without delay in a transparent
and consistent manner," Mr Omaboe said.
GRi…/
Send to viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra)
04 December 2002- Dr Konadu Apraku has charged the National Board of the
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to look beyond developing the
textile, garments and apparel sector to enable Ghana hit the one billion dollar
export target.
He said South Africa
and other countries have shown the way adding that it should not be too
difficult for Ghana to achieve that. Ghana exported less than 500,000 dollars
last year under the AGOA deal.
Dr Apraku said this
when he inaugurated a 10-member board under his chairmanship. It is to find
producers, marketers, and source funding to engage in successful exploitation
of the AGOA.
The board, which is
to play an advisory role as well, will monitor successes in the area. It has
representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Association of Ghana
Industries, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Federation of
Association of Ghanaian Exporters, Ghana Association of Women Entrepreneurs,
Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
The rest are the
Ghana Export Promotion Council (GEPC) and a representative of Presidential
Initiative on Garments.
GRi…/
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareview.com
Accra (Greater Accra)
04 December 2002- Poul Nielson, European Commissioner for Development and
Humanitarian Aid, said on Monday that Ghana spent only 10 percent of her credit
facility of the last five years.
He told journalists
in Accra that Ghana now has 311 million euros to access. Explaining why such
funds are not easy to access, Nielson said to be able to access the full credit
facility per year, "it is important to convince EU tax payers that debtor
nations will stick to laid down contract agreements."
"These must be
fully justified and countries in Africa must indicate at all times the proper
use of such funds to EU taxpayers. Accounting standards, anti-corruption
measures and honest auditing must be strictly adhered to," he explained.
He noted that
discussions with the President and Minister of Finance had immense potential to
open borders for free flow of trade and economic activity between Ghana and the
EU.
Nielson told the
Ghana News Agency (GNA) Business Desk that discussions include improved public
sector management, private sector development, roads, especially important
access roads, rural water and electricity supply, schools for rural
communities.
He said these areas
have been identified as key development factors with the potential to
kick-start the needed growth of the economy. Nielson said this would stimulate
partnership between African, Caribbean Pacific and EU countries. He urged them
to stay in touch with the European Development and Investment Fund to be
abreast with developments that will benefit them.
GRi…/
Send your comments to
viewpoint@ghanareviw.com