EU Ambassador to inspect EU-funded projects in Volta Region 


European Union (EU) Ambassador to Ghana, William Hanna, will tomorrow, 24 February, 2015 begin a three-day visit to the Volta Region of Ghana to inspect EU-funded projects there. This is the first time the Ambassador is visiting the Volta Region since he assumed office in Ghana, in the second half of 2014.  Ambassador Hanna is keen to travel outside of Accra to get to meet Ghanaians and learn more about Ghana.

As part of his visit, Ambassador Hanna will pay a courtesy call on the Volta Regional Minister, Ms. Helen Ntoso in her office in Ho on 24 February 2015. He will also inspect progress made on the Eastern corridor roads and meet the representatives from the Northern Volta Gari Processors Association (NOVOGAP) in Nkwanta, as well as with the Ho-based Voice of People with Disability (VOICE-Ghana) organisation.

On 25 February 2015, the EU Ambassador will meet with beneficiaries of a project aimed at assisting children with disabilities at Akoefe - Gadza in Ho, and interact with some parents of children with disabilities who were sent to school as a result of an intervention by VOICE Ghana with funding from the EU and other partners through STAR Ghana. He will also interact with the school authorities.  

Ambassador Hanna, will return to Accra on 26 February 2015.

Background:

The EU has a policy of working with Local Authorities for the reduction of poverty in partner countries such as Ghana.  

This policy constitutes the basis for the grant contract between the EU and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) to the tune of EUR 224,022.06.  

This grant has facilitated the collaborative engagement with relevant stakeholders such as the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ). 

It is the expectation of the EU that this support will strengthen the VRCC in the execution of its mandate and for the attainment of the laudable objectives contained in the Government of Ghana's medium term policy framework – the Transformation Agenda.

Project visits:

The Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC), partly funded by the European Union, supported successful advocacy actions of Northern Volta Gari Processors Association (NOVOGAP) between May 2011 and November 2012.
  
NOVOGAP managed to get the main Nkwanta road and other feeder roads in the northern part of the Volta Region properly constructed, making it possible for farmers and agro-processors to transport their produce from the farms to the market centres. This has made the produce of NOVOGAP members accessible to buyers, leading to an increase in their sales volumes and income.


Eastern Corridor road:

The construction of the Eastern Corridor road is between Dodo Pepesu and Nkwanta, in the northern part of the Volta Region. The road stretches 46.4 Km and is being constructed as a Double Bitumen Surface Treatment (DBST) road.  

The works contractor is Oumarou Kanazoe Freres, a company from Burkina Faso and the design and supervision is by Louis Berger (F). 

The total Financing Agreement of the European Union contribution to the construction of the stretch of the road is EUR 32.31 million. Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) is the contracting authority. The current implementation progress passed 70%.

Voice of People with Disability (VOICE Ghana):

Voice of People with Disability (VOICE Ghana) is a Disability Rights, Advocacy and Capacity Building Organisation, based in Ho, Volta Region of Ghana. 

The organisation has been operating since 2002, campaigning for the rights and needs of persons with disabilities in Ghana, and engaging Local Government Officials, Traditional Authorities and Private Enterprises on their statutory responsibilities to persons with disabilities. 

VOICE Ghana had the opportunity to receive a number of grants from STAR-Ghana (a multi-donor pooled funding mechanism, Funded by DFID, DANIDA, EU and USAID) in 2011 to improve the lives of children with disabilities, through adequate education.


GBC