Accra, March 10, GNA - The United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) is making available an amount of 20 million pounds in support of the Ghana AIDS Commission, under a new major stocktaking of the Ghana National HIV/AIDS programme.

Mr Hilary Benn, who announced the support at a press conference in Accra, said the British Government was also providing 40 million pounds as direct budget support to the Government of Ghana under its health programmes.

Government would determine its own priorities under the support, but Mr Benn indicated that its focus would be on how to reduce the increasing infant and maternal mortality in the country.

Mr Benn, who was in the country for a two-day visit, commended Ghana for sustaining her democracy.

He held discussions with President John Agyekum Kufuor and Finance Minister Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo and visited the Akwapim District in the Eastern Region and interacted with farmers of the Kuapa Cocoa Project. He also visited a health post in Adawso in the Eastern Region, and held discussions on HIV/AIDS with education officials and representatives of the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana.

Mr Benn described as impressive the use of HIPC benefits, and pledged the continued support of the British Government to meet notable challenges of reducing infant and maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS and the provision of safe drinking water.