The Danish Government is assisting Ghana with more than 850 billion over the next four year to enhance the country's national development and poverty reduction effort.

The amount would be used to finance projects in key sectors such as health, education, transport, energy, water and sanitation and to enhance the status of women. Finance Minister, Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, announced this in Accra yesterday at the end of the annual consultation between Ghana and Denmark.

The Danish team, which included the Danish Ambassador to Ghana, Mr, Ole Blicher-Olsen, was West and Central Africa of Danida. Mr Osafo-Maafo said 210 billion of the development assistance fund will be provided this year while the rest will be portioned out annually in trenches.

The Finance Minister commended Danida for it support to the development of Ghana which he described as timely and beneficial. He gave the assurance that the government will utilise the assistance judiciously to justify further support from Danida. Mr. Osafo-Maafo described Denmark as a special partner in Ghana's development effort and appealed to her to impress on the developed world to ensure the early release of relief under HIPC.

Ms Hvidt commended Ghana for a peaceful election and transition to intensify effort at checking corruption and HIV/AIDS and pledged Danida' support to combat the spread of Aids.