The Head of the Delegation of the European Commission in Ghana, Mr Filiberto Ceriani Sebregondi, has given assurance that EU assistance to Ghana will not change with the change in government. He said the EU had committed €367 million from 2008 until 2013 and indicated that that arrangement would be carried through. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic shortly after the pronouncement of Professor John Evans Atta Mills as the President-elect of Ghana, Mr Sebregondi said the EU and the Government of Ghana had signed an agreement in that respect. “Once there is an agreement, nothing should change it,” he said, and noted that Ghanaians and the government should not be worried or harbour any fears in that regard. Under the 10th European Development Fund, the EU and Ghana signed a new Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for 2008–2013 in December 2007, with a budget of €367 million. The CSP was prepared in the context of the Joint Assistance Strategy signed by Ghana's development partners. The EU’s co-operation with Ghana will focus on three main areas: Transport connectivity and regional integration (€76 million), governance (€95m) and general budget support (€175 m). The connectivity assistance will improve access to markets and social services in rural areas through better road links. In governance, the aim is to establish more effective, transparent and accountable local government systems, engage civil society in national dialogue and decision-making and strengthen the practice of democracy. With general budget support, the government’s macro-economic stability and reform programme will be bolstered, thereby contributing to poverty reduction, economic growth, equitable access to social services and improved public finance management. The remaining part of the envelope (€21 m) will be used for trade facilitation, migration issues, the environment and technical co-operation. Ghana is also one of the first countries to undertake negotiations with the EU on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). Responding to public concerns in 2003, the EU adopted the FLEGT Action Plan, aiming to encourage sustainable forest management. Another challenge for Ghana has been the poor management of natural resources, including the smuggling of “conflict diamonds”. The Kimberley Process brings together interested governments, the international diamond industry and civil society together with the EU to address this issue. Ghana has achieved remarkable progress under this initiative. Mr Sebregondi reminded Ghanaians that the EU was independent of any political party or government and would do things according to its plan. He said the EU was committed to assisting Ghana, just like any other developing country, to overcome poverty and improve the living conditions of its people. Mr Sebregondi described the elections as free and fair and commended the Electoral Commission (EC) for the able manner in which it organised them. He also praised Ghanaians for their show of maturity, in spite of the pockets of disturbances before the announcement of the results, and expressed the hope that other African countries would emulate that example. Prof Mills was at the weekend pronounced winner of the crunch presidential run-off held on December 28 to become the third president of the Fourth Republic. Source: Daily Graphic