The World Bank will provide up to US$ 1.2 billion in interest-free loans to Ghana over the next three years, and has launched a landmark initiative that challenges civil society organizations and other citizens’ groups to help deepen transparency and accountability by monitoring the implementation of Bank-funded projects in the country.

[...] The target sectors for this future lending, according to the Bank’s Country Director for Ghana, Ishac Diwan, are water and sanitation, agriculture and fisheries, energy, natural resource management, transport and budget support.

The Bank, which is one of Ghana’s leading development partners, indicated its readiness to assist the newly-elected Ghanaian government in any way possible to minimize the impact of the global financial meltdown and economic crisis.

At a meeting with the Ghanaian President, Prof John Evans Atta-Mills, Ms Ezekwesili [...] reiterated the importance of citizens’ participation in the development processes in complementing government efforts in finding solutions to Ghana’s macroeconomic challenges.

The Ghanaian President on his part noted that an important ingredient in dealing with macro economic problems is transparency and the need for citizens to know the true state of the economy and what the government is doing to solve the problems.

[...] During the visit, the Bank, in collaboration with a group of civil society organizations launched a new Social Accountability Initiative to monitor Bank-financed projects and programs of their choice. Three umbrella organizations – National Coalition of NGOs in Waste Management (NACONWAM), Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) and a group led by the Integrated Social Development Center (ISODEC) – decided to monitor the Second Urban Environmental Sanitation Project (for NACONWAM), the Urban Water Project (for CONIWAS) and the Poverty Reduction Support Credits (for ISODEC).

Source:  World Bank, 11 Mar 2009

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