[ 2019-02-27 ]

UK to finance Tamale Airport, Bekwai Hospital project
Accra, Feb. 27, GNA - The Government of the United
Kingdom (UK) has pledged financial support towards
the construction of three major infrastructural
projects in Ghana, this year.

The Tamale Airport, Bekwai Hospital project and
Kumasi Central Market are expected to receive
funding to either undergo major expansion or
construction or facilitate the installation of
essential equipment as part of the UK
Government’s partnership agreements with
Ghana.

The UK’s Minister for Africa, Mrs Harriet
Baldwin, announced the support at the end of the
second UK-Ghana Business Council (UKGBC) meeting,
in London.

The meeting, co-chaired by Mrs Baldwin and Vice
President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, brought together
Ministers and other government officials from both
countries as well as captains of industry to
deliberate on ways to deepen business and other
bilateral ties between the two countries.

“We will be backing the modernisation of
Kumasi Central Market with a total of 80 million
Euros in support of this major trading centre.
It's visited by over 800,000 people every day and
it will see upgrades of electrical networks, water
supplies, generators, fire detection systems and
public transport,” Mrs Baldwin said.

Additionally, the UK would back the expansion of
Tamale Airport, which would include the
construction of a modern and new international
terminal building.

It's a 56 million-dollar loan, which would enable
the Airport’s expansion to improve
tourists’ access and promote economic
growth as well facilitate Hajj pilgrimage with a
new multi-purpose facility.

More so it would back the completion of Bekwai
Hospital, which would be led by the Eurofinsa
Group and insurance firm Ellipse UK, UK Export
Finance (UKEF’s) guarantee of a 20-million
euro loan to support every aspect of the
hospital’s construction.

It would include the construction of 120 new beds,
an emergency department, a maternity ward and an
operating theatre.

Mrs Baldwin said the announcement was “just
a flavour of some of the amazing announcements
that had come through as a result of the UK-Ghana
Business Council meeting.”

“It's something we're committed to doing
with a six-month frequency in terms of taking this
agenda forward.”

The over-arching goal of the UKGBC is to match as
closely as possible Ghana’s needs with UK's
expertise, financing and private sector support.

The London meeting explored new strategies and
opportunities to enhance trade and investment
between the two countries.

The UK-Ghana Business Council will next meet in
Accra in October, this year.

By Godwill Arthur-Mensah

Source - GNA

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