European Union aid to Ghana is €1.2b since 1975

Ghana has received an amount of €1.2 billion (GH¢2.3 billion) as development aid from the European Union (EU) since it started cooperation with the country in 1975.

The aid was pumped into the various sectors of the economy. The country’s transport and infrastructure received 28% of the aid, agriculture and rural development (24%), macro-economic and budget support (27%); governance and social sectors (8,%); environment and natural resources 5%; trade and private sector (2%) and other activities such as technical cooperation; support activities etc. (5%).

This was contained in a message by the Delegation of the EU to Ghana on May 9, 2012 to mark the 62nd anniversary of the ‘Europe Day’ celebrations.

“Since 1975 the European Commission (EC) has provided an estimated amount of €1.2 billion in terms of development aid to Ghana,” text of the message said giving the background of the EU-Ghana cooperation.

The European Commission and EU Member States finance around half of all Official Development Assistance (ODA) received by Ghana, according to the message. And these ODA are grants.

In 2009, the European Commission disbursed an amount of €115 million in terms of development assistance in Ghana and “in 2011, an amount of €63.7 million in terms of development assistance was disbursed.”

The Commission, in 2012, plans to aid Ghana with over €120 million.

By Ekow Quandzie