Business News of Friday, 26 November 2004

Source: GNA

Ghana, Iran sign 1.5 million-dollar grant

Accra, Nov. 26, GNA - Ghana and Iran on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a grant of 1.5 dollars (about 13.8 billion cedis) for the supply of ambulances to enhance the emergency response capabilities of hospitals and clinics.

Minister of State for Economic Planning, Dr Nii Noi Ashong initialled for Ghana while Mr Ahmed Pabarja, Director of Economic Cooperation of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, initialled for Iran. The purchase of the ambulances is in line with Government's policy to provide quality and timely health care delivery.

Dr Ashong said the various interventions in health care delivery in the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) were aimed at unleashing the full potential of the Sector to enable it to contribute effectively towards development.

He said one of the inventions was geared towards the mobilization of the necessary internal and external resources to establish an effective ambulance service nationwide, which would significantly enhance the emergency response capabilities of hospitals and clinics in providing quality and timely health care.

Mr Pabarja said it was his hope that the token from Iran would contribute immensely towards the attainment of the purpose for which the grant was given.

The ambulances would arrive in the next couple of months, he said.