Marrakech, (Morocco)
12 December 2002 - Morocco is set to make Ghana her strategic economic partner
in the West African sub-region with investments in the textiles sector,
tourism, airline industry, fishing, mining and other areas.
Ali Belhaj, Ghana's
Consular General in Morocco, told journalists on Thursday after Vice President
Aliu Mahama held bilateral discussions with Driss Jettou, Prime Minister of
Morocco at the prestigious Hotel Mamounia, said to be the most popular in the
world. It was an ancient palace that was developed into a hotel.
The discussions,
which were held behind closed doors, were said to have centred on strengthening
the renewed diplomatic and economic ties between Ghana and her North African
partner.
Belhaj said in
furtherance of his country's commitment, he would lead a Moroccan business
delegation to Ghana in February in next year to build on relations that were
formed when they visited Ghana last year, while new ones would be established.
"We are building
the vision for our future relations with Ghana as a strategic development
partner in West Africa. We are happy that our relations, which were dormant for
more than 20 years, have now been revitalised with the visit of President John
Kufuor to Morocco last year and the visit of the Vice President," he said.
Vice President Mahama
is in Marrakech to participate in the Fourth Global Forum on Reinventing
Government. The three-day event, organized by King Mohammed VI of Morocco with
support from the United Nations and the World Bank, seeks to achieve
partnerships and dialogue that can identify common values and concrete
initiates to facilitate governance, democracy and development.
Belhaj said Jettou,
who visited Ghana before he became Prime Minister, was eager to see the
relations flourish for the mutual benefit of both countries. He said Morocco
was collaborating with Senegal in the telecom sector and expressed the hope
that such cooperation would also be extended to Ghana.
Alhaji Mustapha Ali
Idris, Deputy Foreign Minister, who sat in the meeting, described the interest
of Morocco in Ghana as deep and with bright prospects. He said Ghana invited
Morocco to explore the prospects of investing in the cash-strapped Ghana
Airways, adding that issue had been prioritised.
Alhaji Mustapha said
the two countries were working toward the establishment of a Joint Economic
Commission to facilitate their cooperation. Morocco, which has a population of
$30m, earned $8.2bn in exports. Its main industries are in phosphate rock
mining and processing, leather goods, food processing, textiles and
construction.
It has an annual
tourist receipt of about three million. In another development, Vice President
Aliu Mahama held discussions with his Nigerian Counterpart, Abubakar Atiku, who
expressed contentment with the fruitful ties between Ghana and his country.
Atiku, who said
Ghanaians and Nigerians, clicked so well that their two countries should have
been one, called for support for ECOWAS to develop strong economic cooperation
in the sub-region to enhance the living standards of the 250m people there.
He expressed regret
about the frequent conflicts that emerge every now and then and said Ghana and
Nigeria had to work together to restore peace to the troubled areas.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
13 December 2002- Government has so far disbursed a total amount of 180bn cedis
from monies accruing from the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative to
finance various development projects aim at reducing poverty in communities
throughout the country.
An amount of 80bn
cedis was also spent for payment of government debt and the interest accruing
on it. Dr Anthony Akoto-Osei, Special Adviser to the Minister of Finance
announced this at the national launch of Ghana HIPC Watch; a project, which
aimed to educate civil society organizations to be proactive in the monitoring
of HIPC, funded projects.
The Social Enterprise
Development Foundation of West Africa (SEND), a non-Governmental Organisation
is facilitating the project to sensitise civil society organizations and
local-based community groups to partner with District Assemblies to ensure that
the projects impact on the lives of beneficiaries.
Dr Akoto-Osei said an
additional 30bn cedis of the funds would soon be given out to finance projects
that meet the guidelines. He explained that the process of disbursement was
moving slowly because government wanted to ensure that it was transparent and
accountable.
"The Ministry of
Finance is concerned about proper use of resources to impact the lives of the
people in the country." It is in this connection that the Ministry of
Finance had involved the Ministry of Local Government to co-ordinate the
projects, since they were aware of the real situations in districts of the
country.
Dr Akoto-Osei pledged
Government commitment to providing the necessary support for civil society to
disseminate information and educate people on the Ghana Poverty Reduction
Strategy.
He, however, noted
that the participation of the poor should go beyond benefits to actual
participation in decision-making to enhance whatever was derived from the
programmes. Siapha Kamara, Chief
Executive Officer of SEND, said the HIPC Watch project would work towards the
maximization of the effects of the HIPC on people with disability, widows,
small-scale producers and the vulnerable in society.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
13 December 2002- Ghana has signed a 15m Swiss Franc (84.14bn cedis) budgetary
support grant agreement to Ghana in Accra. Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance
signed for Ghana, while Georg Zubler, the Swiss Ambassador signed for his
country.
This is the first
official bilateral assistance from Switzerland to Ghana in more than 15 years.
Osafo-Maafo said the grant followed the Swiss government's satisfaction at
Ghana's efforts at macro-economic stabilization, respect for human rights and
the rule of law.
He said it was also
based on the convincing report on the economy by a Swiss Mission that visited
the country in May which studied the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, explored
possibilities of private sector investment and export promotion and areas of promoting
venture capital.
Osafo-Maafo indicated
that half of the grant; about 42.07bn cedis would be disbursed immediately
while the other half would be disbursed by April, next year. Zubler said the
agreement signified the opening of a new era of opportunity between the two
countries, saying, "it is going to open more doors for technical
cooperation between Ghana and Switzerland.
He said the fact that
the money was a grant also signified the confidence that the Swiss government
has in the Ghana government to deliver on its promise of economic performance,
good governance and peace and security.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
13 December 2002 - Italy has cancelled $5m owed her by Ghana, under an
agreement signed in Accra on Thursday. A statement signed by Nana Ohene-Ntow,
government spokesman for finance and the economy, said the $5m is part of the
benefits Ghana is enjoying as a result of reaching decision point in the HIPC
Initiative last February.
The agreement was
signed by the Minister of Finance, Yaw Osafo-Maafo and the Italian Ambasador,
Giancarlo Izzo. The statement said under the agreement, Italy would
automatically cancel another $32m owed by Ghana when she reaches the completion
point under the HIPC Initiative by the beginning of 2004.
The agreement said
Italy would continue to support Ghana's efforts at poverty reduction as part of
its policy of instituting measures to reduce the external debt of HIPC
countries with low per capita incomes.
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Accra (Greater Accra)
13 December 2002- OGR Tours Ghana Limited on Wednesday introduced a fleet of
buses that will facilitate easy and luxurious movement of airline passengers
destined beyond Accra.
The buses, which will
carry travelers from the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to areas beyond
Accra, are extensions of air tickets purchased from Europe, America or Asia.
According to Mrs
Grace Botchwey, Executive Director of OGR, the idea is to create a secure and
comfortable mode of transport for foreigners and Ghanaians alike who are
returning from abroad and have their final destinations beyond the capital.
She said the company
saw the void in transportation in this area and is committed to creating a
niche for travelers from abroad. "We noticed that for several years
airline passengers, Ghanaians and foreigners alike had to struggle to get to
their towns in comfort.
Hence the decision to
move into this area and fill that void." The company currently has three
Volvo buses with a capacity for 54 passengers. The buses, each valued at
250,000 dollars, are air-conditioned and fitted with washrooms for extra
comfort. It is the first in the country to operate such buses.
Launching the buses,
Kwamena Bartels, Acting Minister of Tourism said they are coming at an
opportune time when government was keen on raising standards in the transport
industry and make it more convenient for operators and users.
He said OGR has come
of age - from just selling airline tickets and arranging tour operations - and
congratulated them for their foresight and resolve to bring change into the
transportation industry.
He said the Ministry
of Tourism was in the process of supporting tour companies to purchase luxury
buses to meet the expected increase in tourists. Bartles said government
welcomed such a move and would take decisive steps to ensure that it succeeded.
He deplored the state
of rest stops in the country, saying, "They are not anything to write home
about. Some are just disgraceful. It is in this regard that I welcome these
buses that are fitted with washrooms and which will give such passengers the
security and comfort they are used to."
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Accra (Greater Accra)
13 December 2002- The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI)
on Thursday said it is dismayed at the action taken by the Accra Metropolitan
Assembly (AMA) against some banks and companies over the payment of business
operating permit fees saying locking out businesses is not the best approach.
"The Chamber is
of the view that locking out businesses will thwart all the efforts government
and the private sector have been making to attract foreign investment into
Ghana and also create the wrong impression that Ghana does not have a congenial
investment climate," it said in a statement signed by Sal Amegavie, the
Chief Executive.
The Chamber
specifically referred to the locking out of Barclays Bank and Standard
Chartered Bank and some business operators who are its members. The statement
said the Chamber, in collaboration with the Ghana Association of Bankers, had
been in negotiation with the AMA over the rate of increase and the mode of
classification of businesses for levying the Business Operating Permit Fees
since 1995.
It said negotiations
for 2002 commenced in March, 2002 and the Chamber last met AMA on 12 November
2002. "The negotiations were not concluded and the AMA agreed to another
meeting to finalise the rate of increase for 2002 and 2003."
The statement said it
was agreed that the business operators could pay what they paid in 2001 on
account to enable the AMA to continue with its operations pending the next
meeting between the two parties.
"The GNCCI
therefore regrets the AMA action which is against the spirit of the
negotiations on the Business Operating Permit Fees since 1995." The
Chamber called on the AMA to withdraw its action and reconvene the negotiations
soonest to enable a quick resolution of the issues raised at the previous
meeting.
Banking activities at
the High Street branches of Standard Chartered Bank and Barclays Bank were
disrupted for at least two hours on Tuesday morning when AMA closed them for
not paying their business operating permit fees for the year 2002.
Personnel from the
Police and the AMA Task Force prevented customers from doing business with the
banks. The AMA has increased the business operating permit fees for the banks
from 27m cedis to 140m cedis.
AMA said only these
two banks were resisting the payment of the new fees. Ebenezer Essoka, Managing
Director of Stanchart, described the action of the AMA as
"irresponsible". AMA carried out similar actions against two mobile
phone operators on Wednesday, Spacefon and Millicom.
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