Britain confident in our economy

Page 32: Daily Graphic, April 23, 2010.
Story: Albert K. Salia
BRITAIN has expressed confidence in the prospects of Ghana’s economic growth and development.
The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Dr Nicholas Westcott, said the confidence was buoyed by the number of British companies doing business in Ghana and the interest shown by more British firms to do business in the country.
Speaking at a reception to commemorate the Queen’s birthday in Accra on Wednesday, Dr Westcott noted, “Land Rover is re-launching itself on the Ghanaian market with its latest and best products next month and a few days later Virgin Atlantic will launch its first service between Heathrow and Accra, demonstrating continued British commitment to the prospects for Ghana’s economic growth and development.”
He said trade between Ghana and Britain was nearly six times the size of aid flows, amounting to $500 million a year.
He acknowledged the tremendous contributions of Tullow Oil and Vodafone in bringing technology and skills to Ghana.
“Both companies are committed not just to commercial activities but to Ghana as a country. Tullow’s corporate social responsibility programme has helped it to build links with communities in the Western Region and the Vodafone Foundation is supporting one of the most inspiring institutions, the Right to Dream Academy, for young sportsmen,” he said.
Dr Westcott said the British Department For International Development (DFID) programmed support to Ghana rose to £86 million over the past year, with much of it focused on the health and educational sectors which were key to Ghana’s future.
He said the British government had also supported private sector development, civil society, social protection for the poorest, better management of public finances and actions that reinforced democratic accountability.
According to him, the British Council continued to focus particularly on strengthening links between higher educational institutions and schools in the UK and Ghana with the view to helping young Ghanaians to develop their skills for their own benefit and that of their country.
He expressed happiness over the closer co-operation between the UK and Ghana in the fight against drugs and crime and in managing irregular migration.
The High Commissioner said Ghana and the UK were also working together to promote stability in the sub-region.
He said after working hand-in-hand with Ghana at the climate change conference to put in place the “fast start” finance initiative, the British Government was looking forward to providing funding for Ghana’s own framework for sustainable development.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hannah Tetteh, said the interest of British firms to invest in Ghana attested to their confidence in the resilience and growth of the economy.
She pledged the government’s commitment to manage the economy responsibly and facilitate an enabling environment that would encourage more investments from the UK and elsewhere to boost bilateral trade.
She commended the British Government for its friendship and co-operation and for the various forms of technical assistance and aid provided for Ghana over the years.