USAID @ 50: Improves health delivery, supports economic growth in Ghana
November 3, 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) since its establishment by former U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
The Agency’s operations in Ghana have led to the strengthening of institutions, improvement in health delivery as well as supporting the country’s sustainable economic growth, it says.
“USAID has worked together with Ghanaians for 50 years, and today (November 3), USAID is proud to see Ghana becoming a model for good governance and development in Africa. USAID is working hand-in-hand with the Government of Ghana to build sustainable systems for delivering essential services in health, education, and local economic development,” says USAID in a press release issued by the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy in Accra and copied to ghanabusinessnews.com.
USAID has been a quiet force for progress not only in Ghana, but in 100 other countries, fostering a more peaceful and secure world, it says.
Stating some of its successes in Ghana, USAID says it “has supported sustainable and broad-based growth. Ghana’s non-traditional exports amounted to just $68 million in 1991. Over the years, USAID has helped with a range of business sector reforms and private enterprise development – and by 2010, Ghana’s non-traditional exports were bringing in $1.6 billion, creating more than 50,000 jobs. The greatest impact was among small-scale enterprises.”
On the health side – in the area of malaria eradication, the statement says USAID and the Government of Ghana coordinated efforts with other donors to promote the use of treated nets. “As a result, the proportion of the families using treated nets rose from just 3 percent to 33 percent in four years. Ghana has built on this momentum, rallying both the private sector and civil society to help achieve large scale impact with malaria interventions such as treated nets and indoor residual spraying.”
On this Golden Anniversary we thank the Ghanaian people for your partnership and friendship, the agency says. “USAID will continue to bring an entrepreneurial approach to our focus on food security, health, education and local economic development. We look forward to working with Ghana as it becomes a catalyst for good governance and sustainable development in Africa.”
By Ekow Quandzie