Exchange of Notes concerning Grant Aid for Poverty Reduction Strategy to the Republic of Ghana

January 24, 2008

The Government of Japan has decided to extend grant aid of 337.5 million yen to the Republic of Ghana as assistance for the poverty reduction strategy. Notes to this effect were exchanged on January 24 (Thu) (same day local time) between Mr. Yutaka Nakamura, Japanese Chargé d’Affaires ad interim to Ghana, and Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD of Ghana.
Ghana has been steadily implementing the Growth Poverty Reduction Strategy II, which was formulated in 2006, and the country’s real GDP is expected to grow by 6% in 2007. Japan is providing assistance to the country on a project basis in the agriculture and forestry, industry, education, health, infrastructure and governance sectors. In the education, health and industry sectors, Japan is providing the country with assistance in policymaking. The assistance announced today is Japan’s first budget support to the country, and it makes Japan a participant in the general budget support program for Ghana, which is positioned as an important assistance tool and an important opportunity for dialogue for reform and policymaking. Through this opportunity, Japan is expected to provide Ghana with input on the direction of Ghana’s development policy mainly in the sectors where Japan has strong expertise, thereby increasing synergies with Japan’s bilateral project-based assistance to the country.

(END)