The Danish government has launched a new Danish policy for the Danish engagement with Ghana and sets the stage for a more strategic – based partnership with increased emphasis on political and commercial cooperation in the coming years.
According to Mogens Jensen, the Danish Trade and Development Minister, Ghana has come a long way in fighting poverty and is today a model of democracy in Africa. The country is part of a new Africa’s growth, that is in increasing demand for trade and investment. The Minister said, ʺWe will use our many years of successful development cooperation and close ties as a springboard to create a smooth transition from development cooperation to increased commercial cooperation for growth and employment in Ghana. Danish companies can provide many of the solutions that Ghana needs in areas such as climate, water, health and infrastructure.”
The Minister went ahead to say, ʺWe must maintain and adapt our commitment over the coming years so that Ghana in the early 2020s will be a country that stands on its own feet but with a strong Danish politics, commercial and cultural engagement.ʺ
Mogens stressed that Ghana still has a number of challenges with inequality, unemployment, good governance, health, rights and development of the private sector. This is where we still need to support Ghana so that there will be a gradual transition.
The New National Policy Of Engagement with Ghana will be covering the period 2014-18. Development cooperation will include health, private sector development, good governance and general budget support. The Danish assistance will gradually go from about 350 million Danish kronor per year to 200 million Danish kronor in 2018. In addition, there would be a number of activities under Danida sector as well as purely commercial advice. From 2017, it is expected to be a transition programme for the gradual phasing out of the final development.
The political part of the new strategic based partnership will focus on topics such as Global Fight Against Torture, Maritime Security in the Gulf of Guinea and Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Commercial cooperation will be based on Danish strongholds as in green growth, agriculture, climate, water, health and infrastructure.
At present, there are about 35 Danish companies in Ghana.
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