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UK makes long-term commitment to Ghana

03 September 2008

Press Release

During a visit to Northern Ghana, Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, announced projects to help women survive child birth and to increase children’s access to education.

Visiting the Savelugu District Hospital, Mr Alexander committed £6.75 million to the Ministry of Health for emergency obstetric equipment. The equipment will go a long way to support Ghana’s efforts to reduce maternal mortality rates, currently approximately 214 women in every 100,000 live births.

Improving literacy

Following his visit to the hospital, Mr Alexander went to the School for Life in Tamale where he announced £1 million towards the Literacy for Life Change project. This aims to give children of 8-14 years access to basic education in northern Ghana. Children who are either not in school because there is no formal school in their community or were unable to enrol in school at the right age take part in a nine month literacy programme taught in their native language. This enables them to learn more effectively than starting lessons in English.

The Secretary of State said:

"The UK is committed to helping Ghana to reach the health and education Millennium Development Goals. Our support will focus on reducing maternal and infant mortality rates and providing literacy skills to an estimated 13,000 children, at least half of whom are expected to be girls."

Ten-year partnership

While in Ghana, Mr Alexander and the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Hon Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, are to sign a 10 year Development Partnership Arrangement with the Government of Ghana. The formal signing follows an announcement by Mr Alexander in February, increasing UK aid to Ghana by 20% over the next three years, totalling £250 million.

The Secretary of State is visiting Ghana ahead of his attendance at the 3rd High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, taking place in Accra from 2-4 September.

Notes to editors

  1. The Literacy for Life Change project is consistent with the Complementary Basic Education Policy being developed by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MoESS). The project will also seek to work with the Ghana Education Service to mainstream this approach within the formal school system.
  2. The Literacy for Life Change project is expected to run until December 2011 and will be implemented in four districts: Nadowli, Jirapa/Lambrussie (Upper West Region), Bawku West (Upper East Region) and Central Gonja (Northern Region).
  3. DFID is committed to support the Government of Ghana to achieve the Millennium Development Goals targets of universal primary education and gender parity in schools.

For further information, contact Amy Wright on 020 7023 0600, e-mail amy-wright@dfid.gov.uk or call our Public Enquiries Point on 0845 300 4100.

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