§ Jeremy CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department has made available for improvements to the water supply in(a) Accra and (b) Kumasi; and what conditions regarding the involvement of the private sector apply to such funding. [166359]
§ Hilary BennDFID made a grant of £13.95 million to the Ghana Water Sector Improvement Project in 1998 with £7.735 million earmarked for capital expenditure. To date over £4.5 million has been used for technical assistance projects. DFID have now agreed with the Government of Ghana that the capital funds may be used in any urban area. The conditions which reflect an established Government of Ghana policy under successive administrations for the use of the capital funds are
Tariff increases should have reached a level whereby average tariffs are at economically viable levels, or a plan is announced to reach viable tariff levels within a satisfactory time frame.Bids should have been received showing private sector interest in operating urban schemes.There is evidence of the Government of Ghana's commitment to a tariff structure which balances commercial needs with poor people's ability to pay.