§ 29. Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on UK aid policy in relation to Ghana. [95608]
§ Clare ShortGhana is a major Sub-Saharan country partner for our development programme. The central objective of the Ghanaian Government's development agenda as set out in "Ghana Vision 2020" is to improve the quality of life for all Ghanaians, to generate employment and to reduce poverty. This is consistent with our White Paper commitment to help countries achieve the international development goals.
We provided £26 million in 1997–98 financial year and are providing in the region of £40 million this financial year.
We have provided assistance to help the Government of Ghana meet their development objectives in health, education, water, rural infrastructure, natural resources and forestry, through sector-wide approaches and budgetary and public service reforms.