Australian High Commission
Ghana
High Commission address: 2, Second Rangoon Close , (cnr Josef B. Tito Ave), Cantonments - Telephone: 701 2961-3, 777 080 - Fax: 776 803

Development Cooperation

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Australian High Commission provides Bomigo with safe water
Australia to provide $5.8 million to assist conflict victims in Africa

Direct Aid Program

Australia to provide $5.8 million to assist conflict victims in Africa

The Australian Government will provide $5.8 million towards the international relief operation in Sudan and to assist refugees in Kenya. Through its international aid agency (AusAID), Australia will provide $3 million to the World Food Programme (WFP) for food relief in Darfur, Sudan. The worsening violence in Darfur has forced many people to flee to displaced persons camps. Australia’s funding will help WFP to continue feeding nearly three million people.

The international response to the crisis in Sudan is the world’s largest ongoing relief operation, and Australia has consistently demonstrated its concern about the crisis. In 2006, Australia was the fourth-largest bilateral donor to WFP’s Emergency Operation for Sudan.

The additional support for WFP’s operation in Darfur will bring Australia’s assistance to Sudan since May 2004 to $55.6 million.

Australia will also be providing an additional $2.8 million to WFP to help feed over 250,000 Sudanese and Somali refugees living in Kenyan refugee camps.

The escalating conflict in Somalia in recent months has led to an increased number of Somali refugees seeking safety in the camps, with possible further influxes of refugees in the future.

Australia will continue to closely monitor the situation in Sudan and Somalia.

Australia’s aid program to Africa is estimated at $82.1 million in 2006-07.

The Direct Aid Program

The Direct Aid Program (DAP) is a flexible, small grants scheme for development activities managed by Heads of Australian Missions in approximately 45 countries. The emphasis of the program is on alleviating basic humanitarian hardships while at the same time advancing Australia's international relations and public diplomacy objectives. In 2006-07, the total DAP budget is $4million.

The worsening violence in Darfur has forced many people to flee to displaced persons camps. Australia’s funding will help WFP to continue feeding nearly three million people.

The international response to the crisis in Sudan is the world’s largest ongoing relief operation, and Australia has consistently demonstrated its concern about the crisis. In 2006, Australia was the fourth-largest bilateral donor to WFP’s Emergency Operation for Sudan.

The additional support for WFP’s operation in Darfur will bring Australia’s assistance to Sudan since May 2004 to $55.6 million.

Australia will also be providing an additional $2.8 million to WFP to help feed over 250,000 Sudanese and Somali refugees living in Kenyan refugee camps.

The escalating conflict in Somalia in recent months has led to an increased number of Somali refugees seeking safety in the camps, with possible further influxes of refugees in the future.

Australia will continue to closely monitor the situation in Sudan and Somalia.

Australia’s aid program to Africa is estimated at $82.1 million in 2006-07.

Direct Aid Program projects at the Australian High Commission in Accra

Bomingo, Volta Region, Ghana

Direct Aid Program helps provide island community with safe water 

Residents of Bomigo, an island community of around 2500 people in the Volta Region now have access to clean and safe drinking water, following the construction of a water supply system funded by the Australian High Commission.

At a ceremony to officially handover the project to the community, the Australian High Commissioner to Ghana, H.E. Jonathan Richardson said the donation was Australia’s small contribution at the local level to Ghana’s efforts to address its water supply problems and towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal target of reducing by half the proportion of people worldwide without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, by 2015.

The water supply system, was funded under the High Commission’s Direct Aid Programme to assist communities undertake small scale development projects. The project involved the laying of pipes from the nearest source of safe water supply two kilometres away, and underneath the 300 meter stretch of the Volta tributary which is 6 to 10 metres deep in places..

Mr Richardson observed that since Australia re-established its mission in Ghana about two years ago, the Australian government has supported funding for a number of community-based projects in different parts of the country covering sectors such as health, education, gender development and water supply. In the area of water supply, the Australian government has funded projects helping communities in the Upper West and the Western Regions, as well as sanitation projects in the Eastern Region and Greater Accra.

The High Commissioner said he was confident that the project would improve the quality of life for residents of this island community. He pointed out that Australia frequently faced its own challenges of access to water. It was currently in the grip of what some experts believe is its worst drought for 1,000 years. In coping with these challenges, Australia had evolved innovative technologies and water management solutions. In this regard, he was pleased that an Australian-Ghanaian joint venture company, Ghana Pumps and Tanks, had been involved in the Bomigo project.

Mr Richardson noted the efforts of the MP for the area, Hon. Kofi Humado, and the Bomigo Youth and Development Association for taking the initiative in getting this project under way and providing joint funding. He also congratulated the people of Bomigo, the Keta District Chief Executive and the Volta Foundation for collaborating to make the project a success.

Frederick Dzanado, on behalf of the Bomigo Youth and Development Association said the project was a dream come true for the community and the women were going to be the major beneficiaries. He said before the project was undertaken, the women hustled to provide safe drinking water at the peril of their lives as the water was transported in containers in canoes which sometimes capsized.

Mr Raymond Okudzeto, Chairman of the Volta Foundation, said the project was a good example of how peaceful collaboration between all actors in a community on a non-political basis helps promote development.


Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) 

The Australian Government's overseas aid program is a Federal Government funded program that reduces poverty in developing countries.

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) manages the program.

Australia, through AusAID, works with other governments, the United Nations, Australian companies and non-government organisations to design and set up projects which tackle the causes and consequences of poverty in developing counties.

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