EU, gov’t launch joint programming for 2021-2027
European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Ms. Jutta Urpilainen, and the Minister of Finance, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, have officially launched the Multi-annual Indicative Programme for Ghana for 2021-2027.
This new programme falls under the EU’s new Global Europe financing instrument and will provide €203 million for the period 2021-2024, to support the following three priorities: green growth for jobs; smart and sustainable cities; and good governance and security.
These priorities were jointly determined with Team Europe partners and in close consultation with Ghanaian authorities, civil society and other relevant stakeholders.
“Ghana is a strategic partner for the EU in West Africa, as an economic powerhouse and an anchor of stability in the region. The EU sees concrete opportunities to deepen our partnership by working together on Ghana’s green and digital transition, security situation, and at multilateral level by promoting our common values.
“The EU Global Gateway strategy will serve as one of the frameworks for our partnership with Ghana, with the aim to boost smart, clean and secure connections and to provide the quality investment needed in Africa,” Commissioner Urpilainen said.
Background on EU Joint Programming
The Multi-annual Indicative Programme takes the form of a joint programming for Ghana 2021-2027. This has been developed with Team Europe partners, namely with the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the European Investment Bank.
The document has been prepared in close consultation with Ghanaian authorities, civil society organisations, including women and youth organisations, local authorities, private sector representatives, the UN and other partners.
The strategic goal of the joint programming in Ghana is to support Ghana’s economic transformation agenda, boost strategic sustainable investments, decent job creation and private sector development. The EU partners are jointly committed to support the following priority areas: green growth for jobs; smart and sustainable cities; and good governance and security.
For its part, the EU will provide funding amounting to €203million for the period 2021-2024 to reinforce EU-Ghana partnership and advance common interests. The allocation for 2024-2027 will be determined following a review by the EU.
The Global Gateway is the new EU strategy to boost smart, clean and secure links in digital, energy and transport; and strengthen health, education and research systems across the world. It aims to promote sustainable and trusted connections that work for people and the planet, to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from climate change and protecting the environment to improving health security and boosting competitiveness and global supply chains.
Global Gateway aims to mobilise up to €300 billion in investments between 2021 and 2027 to support a lasting global recovery, taking into account partners’ needs and the EU’s own interests.
The EU is already active on some of the above-mentioned priorities, through the following ongoing projects: European Union Agriculture Programme in Ghana (EU-GAP) – this is in partnership with the Ministry of Finance and under the guidance of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, where the EU is supporting the agriculture sector in the Upper West, Savannah and North East Regions with €132 million. EU-GAP aims to increase agricultural productivity, protect natural resources, and improve access to markets, infrastructure and capital for smallholder farmers.
Another programme is the EU support to Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) through the Holistic Reinforcement for Sustainable Development (HORESD) project. The EU has provided a grant of €2.5million to the KMA to help manage solid waste and improve service delivery in the metropolis, which also includes the establishment of a Sustainable Entrepreneurship School, to support entrepreneurs in Kumasi in developing green jobs and finding new ways of converting waste to energy.
Then, the European Investment Bank (EIB) support to Kpong Dam. Co-funded by the European Investment Bank (€12.5 million) and the French Development Agency (AFD, €50 million), the Kpong Dam facilities were restored and upgraded in 2019 to reduce the risk of mechanical failures. Kpong was opened in 1982 and is the second largest hydroelectric dam built in Ghana, which provides about 12% of the country’s electricity production.
The ceremony took place during the commissioner’s visit to Ghana on 30 and 31 March. A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ambassadors of EU member-states and Switzerland, and the Regional Director of the EIB were also in attendance.