By Kofi Ahovi
The government of Ghana has signed an agreement with their Denmark counterparts to provide a total of US$ 70 million, equivalent to DKK 357 million, as a budgetary support through the Multi Donor Budget Support Programme (MDBSP).
The assistance also includes support for the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) which runs from 2010 to 2014.
The programme support has two components, a second phase of general budget support and a public finance management component, the GIFMIS, which is an electronic system for government’s budget, financial accounting and reporting, disbursements, internal control, and auditing. Both the MDBSP and GIFMIS support are harmonized, aligned assistance, in the case of MDBSP with 10 other partners and with GIFMIS, with three other partners.
The proposed MDBSP phase two is intended to support government of Ghana implement the medium term development policy framework, the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA) which spans from 2012 to 2013, with funds through the consolidated fund.
GIFMIS is intended to strengthen fiscal discipline, monitoring of commitments and expenditures, and enhance the accountability and transparency of government financial operations, using modern information technology.
Ghana’s recent emergence as a middle income country, on the verge of becoming an oil producing nation, with a significant development agenda ahead, places some urgency on fostering macroeconomic stability, increasing transparency and accountability and deepening the pace of reforms of public financial management highlights the need to further develop the private sector to partner with government in delivering agreed developments results.
Signing the agreement, the ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Stig Barlyng, assured of Denmark’s support for Ghana to deliver on the aims and results of the GSGDA. From 2003 to date Denmark has disbursed a total of US$55 million.
In a related development, the government of Denmark has approved GHc32.5 million to finance part of the reconstruction of the Takoradi-Agona Junction road in the Western Region. The Government of Ghana is expected to provide an additional GHc12.5million. The Ghana Highway Authority would be responsible for planning and implementation of the project and contracts for both design and construction.
The Takoradi-Agona Juction Road is part of the Trans West African Coastal Highway linking Ghana’s Atlantic coastal strip and harbours with other Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries and Ghanaian up-country areas. The road carries heavy traffic and is a vital link for export of primary and processed materials from Ghana.
The road was rehabilitated in 2003 with a grant from Denmark, hence nicknamed “Denmark Road”.
To prevent premature deterioration of the country’s roads, the government has pledged to apply the necessary fines and off-loading of overloaded vehicles from the beginning of January 2011. Additionally, the Ministry of Roads and Highways is implementing an Axle Load Control Action Plan with an objective of changing loading practices and attitudes of overloading in the country. The plan therefore specifically focuses on awareness, legislation, operation and axle weigh bridge infrastructural equipment.
The government of Ghana has signed an agreement with their Denmark counterparts to provide a total of US$ 70 million, equivalent to DKK 357 million, as a budgetary support through the Multi Donor Budget Support Programme (MDBSP).
The assistance also includes support for the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) which runs from 2010 to 2014.
The programme support has two components, a second phase of general budget support and a public finance management component, the GIFMIS, which is an electronic system for government’s budget, financial accounting and reporting, disbursements, internal control, and auditing. Both the MDBSP and GIFMIS support are harmonized, aligned assistance, in the case of MDBSP with 10 other partners and with GIFMIS, with three other partners.
The proposed MDBSP phase two is intended to support government of Ghana implement the medium term development policy framework, the Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA) which spans from 2012 to 2013, with funds through the consolidated fund.
GIFMIS is intended to strengthen fiscal discipline, monitoring of commitments and expenditures, and enhance the accountability and transparency of government financial operations, using modern information technology.
Ghana’s recent emergence as a middle income country, on the verge of becoming an oil producing nation, with a significant development agenda ahead, places some urgency on fostering macroeconomic stability, increasing transparency and accountability and deepening the pace of reforms of public financial management highlights the need to further develop the private sector to partner with government in delivering agreed developments results.
Signing the agreement, the ambassador of Denmark, H.E. Stig Barlyng, assured of Denmark’s support for Ghana to deliver on the aims and results of the GSGDA. From 2003 to date Denmark has disbursed a total of US$55 million.
In a related development, the government of Denmark has approved GHc32.5 million to finance part of the reconstruction of the Takoradi-Agona Junction road in the Western Region. The Government of Ghana is expected to provide an additional GHc12.5million. The Ghana Highway Authority would be responsible for planning and implementation of the project and contracts for both design and construction.
The Takoradi-Agona Juction Road is part of the Trans West African Coastal Highway linking Ghana’s Atlantic coastal strip and harbours with other Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries and Ghanaian up-country areas. The road carries heavy traffic and is a vital link for export of primary and processed materials from Ghana.
The road was rehabilitated in 2003 with a grant from Denmark, hence nicknamed “Denmark Road”.
To prevent premature deterioration of the country’s roads, the government has pledged to apply the necessary fines and off-loading of overloaded vehicles from the beginning of January 2011. Additionally, the Ministry of Roads and Highways is implementing an Axle Load Control Action Plan with an objective of changing loading practices and attitudes of overloading in the country. The plan therefore specifically focuses on awareness, legislation, operation and axle weigh bridge infrastructural equipment.
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