General News of Wednesday, 9 May 2012Source: GNA Gerard Duijfjes, The Netherlands Ambassador , has officially handed over the grant and financing arrangement for the Ghana Netherlands Water and Sanitation Programme to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development for consideration.

The programme aimed at fulfilling Ghana’s vision to provide water and sanitation services to all by 2025 would concentrate on Ga South, Ga West in the Greater Accra Region and Cape Coast and Elmina in the Central Region.

A release issued by the Ministry and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday in Accra, indicated that the programme would focus on sustainable service delivery, cost recovery, hygiene, and promotion of private sector involvement.

It said the total estimated cost of the programme was 180 million Euro, saying: “The Netherlands government would provide 100 million Euros.

Part of the grant would be used to leverage 30 million Euros to the private sector through Public Private Partnership.

According to the release, the Ghanaian government would provide 50 million Euros for the infrastructure investment component of the programme.

It indicated that the Municipal Councils would also play a pivotal role in the implementation of the programme.

Activities and investments would be planned in a bottom-up approach with exhaustive involvement of local organisations, schools, and the end users.

Both governments would establish an infrastructural fund that allows for flexible use of public resources tailored to local needs and aspirations.**