BUSINESS AND GREEN GROWTH IN GHANA

E M B A S S Y O F D E N M A R K , A C C R A

ANNUAL REPORT 2014

2

Ghana has become a lower middle-income country

and though this is a noticeable achievement some

tendencies are worrying. The economic growth has

slowed down over the last couple of years and the

constraints holding back development of the private

sector is indeed very challenging.

Ghana has in 2014 and into 2015 experienced ex-

tremely high interest rates (30% and above), high

inflation (around 16%) and lack of reforms both for

private sector and infrastructure developments as

well as an increased gap between supply and demand

for electricity, which is hard on many businesses.

For Ghana further economic growth is needed but it

is important that it does not occur without the crea-

tion of a significant amount of decent jobs, especially

for the poorer population. Challenges on this exists

for Ghana but being endowed with natural resources

and vast arable land, opportunities equally exists for

the country to make the private sector a diverse en-

gine of growth; not only confined to extracting and

exporting unprocessed and semi-processed raw mate-

rials but to engage in value addition activities in-

country as well.

The Business and Green Growth team has during the

year 2014 continued to work with government, asso-

ciations and business to get SPDS II successfully

implemented. Some good progress has been made;

among these are the Skills Development Fund and

the BUSAC Fund. Also AGRA, the implementing

partner of the Agricultural Value Chain Facility in

Northern Ghana has shown significant progress in

mobilising the private sector’s interest in the project.

As regarding the PSDS II it was decided in Novem-

ber 2014 to divide responsibilities between the Minis-

try of Private Sector and the Ministry of Trade and

Industry paving the way for a further actions to start

implementation.

2014 has also been the year where the Business and

Green Growth team has made significant progress in

transitioning from “from aid to trade”. The number

of commercial requests received by the Embassy in

Ghana increased significantly in 2014 compared to

previous years, signifying the growing interest in the

Ghanaian market among Danish companies. Espe-

cially for Danish companies within the agriculture

and energy sector, Ghana holds great potential for

investment and sales. In line with this, an Energy

Sector Trade & Business Mission was held in No-

vember 2014 for selected Ghanaian companies to see

Danish technology at first-hand. It was a successful

mission with follow-up businesses being generated

with some of the companies. In addition to the grow-

ing interest in Ghana, the Embassy has seen an in-

creased interest from Danish companies in doing

business in Côte d’Ivoire.

2014 was a year with significant progress in the Busi-

ness Team, and we look forward to strengthening the

collaboration with the private sector in both Ghana

and Denmark and the continuous dialogue and en-

gagement with Government of Ghana, Ministries,

Departments and Agencies.

Good progress with some challenges I N S I D E T H E

R E P O R T :

H. E President Maha-

ma in Copenhagen

3

Business & Green

Growth in Ghana

4

Strategic Focus on

Agriculture

6

Strategic Focus on

Energy

8

Challenge Funds 9

Access to Finance 10

Danida Business

Instruments

11

Sounding Board 12

Business Partners

2014

13

The Business and

Green Growth Team

14

Annual Report 2014

Danida Business and Green Growth in Ghana

Lars Jøker

Programme Coordinator

SPSD II Team Leader,

Business and Green Growth

3

Annual Report 2014

Danida Business and Green Growth in Ghana H. E. President Mahama in Copenhagen

On the 20th of October 2014, H.E. Presi-

dent Mahama came to Copenhagen to take

part in the 2014 Global Green Growth Fo-

rum (3GF). 3GF convenes governments,

businesses, investors and international or-

ganisations to act together for inclusive

green growth. The President was joined by

250 green growth leaders and decision mak-

ers from business, civil society and govern-

ments including H.E. Mr. Hailemariam

Desalegn, Prime Minister of Ethiopia and

the Danish Prime Minister, Mrs. Helle

Thorning-Schmidt.

The theme for 3GF 2014 was ‘Changing

Production and Consumption Patterns

through Transformative Action’.

On the first day President Mahama partici-

pated in a plenary on ‘Transforming the

Food Sector’, ending the day with an official

dinner hosted by the Danish Prime Minister,

and attended by H. E. the Crown Prince

Frederik of Denmark. On the second day,

the President delivered a keynote speech on

the topic ‘Facing the consumers/citizens:

Transforming our consumption Habits’

where he shared his vision for sustainable

living in Ghana and the conditions required

to support Ghana’s emerging middle class.

After delivering the keynote speech together

with Mrs. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Presi-

dent Mahama held bilateral meetings with

the Danish Minister of Trade and Develop-

ment, Mr. Mogens Jensen, H. E. Crown

Prince Frederik, and with Prime Minister

Mrs. Helle Thorning-Schmidt. The Presi-

dent then met with the Danish Business

leaders at the Danish Confederation of In-

dustry. The busy day continued with a visit

to Amager Resource Centre, which manages

waste in Copenhagen and through this waste

management process provides recycled

materials, electricity and district heating back

to its citizens.

Furthermore, the honourable Minister of

Local Government and Rural Development

of Ghana Mr. Julius Debrah participated as

a panellist in the session ‘Unlocking the

value of waste’. Finally, the 3GF also bene-

fited from high-level participation of the

Ghanaian Minister for Food and Agricul-

ture, Hon Fifi Kwetey the Minister for

Trade and Industry, Hon. Ekwow Spio-

Garbrah, and the Minister for Environment,

Science, Technology and Innovation Hon.

Akwasi Oppong-Fosu.

H. E. President Mahama delivering his key note speech at the 2014 3GF on ’Facing the Consumers/Citizens: Transforming our Consumption Habits’

4

Danida was re-launched in 2011 as the Dan-

ish development brand and President Maha-

ma further endorsed Danida in Ghana as a

household name when Ambassador Mrs.

Margit Thomsen was accredited to Ghana.

Danida is not only working on the develop-

ment of the private sector in Ghana but also

heavily involved in the Health sector and

within Good Governance both having a

strong emphasis on civil society.

Support to civil society strengthens citizens’

participation in decentralized governance

and enables them to demand their rights to

service delivery, access to justice, health and

accountability from the local government

institutions. In addition, by improving the

capacity of the local government system

through institutional support, local govern-

ment officials have a better opportunity to

provide effective service delivery to the

people. This is crucial for development in

the private sector especially in the rural areas

where key governmental institutional sup-

port is critical especially where reliance is

overly on the agricultural sector.

Danida is looking to take full advantage of

all its development engagements across the

development teams at the Embassy, which

in terms will create the needed platform for

transiting from Aid-to-Trade.

Business & Green Growth in Ghana

The team ‘Business and Green Growth’ at

the Royal Danish Embassy in Ghana con-

sists of Support to Private Sector Develop-

ment phase II (SPSD II), the Trade Council

and Danida Business Instruments and the

IFU. These all play an essential role in pro-

moting an all-inclusive economic growth

and decent job creation in Ghana. Moreover

the Trade Council facility is becoming an

increasingly important instrument support-

ing Danish commercial interests in Ghana.

The team supports private sector develop-

ment in Ghana as well as trade and invest-

ment cooperation between Danish and

Ghanaian companies through different

interventions in the areas of business envi-

ronment, business advocacy, skills develop-

ment, access to finance, financial institu-

tional capacity building, enterprise

knowledge transfer and cooperation, long

term infrastructure financing; and business

advisory services.

Who we are and what we do

Creating Synergies across

The Tax and Development Pro-

gramme (i) Supports the Gha-

na Revenue Authority (GRA)

to increase public revenues for

development, (ii) Supports two

civil society organisations

(IMANI and Ghana Integrity

Initiative) to improve dome-

stic accountability, judicious

use of public resources and

improve budget literacy.

The Health Sector Programme

(i) Provides general budget

support and (ii) core funding to

Christian Health Association

of Ghana (CHAG). CHAG pro-

vides around 30-40% of health

services in Ghana especially in

rural areas and is therefore an

important actor in ensuring

access to quality health care.

The Right to Services and Good

Governance Programme is a

three component programme

designed around people’s right

to participate in their own de-

velopment, enhanced local

governance, access to justice,

and improved local service

delivery.

Beneficaries from SPSD II at work

5

corporation around the battle against piracy

in the region.

Going forward and based on the assessment

of the past ten (10) years of experience sup-

porting Private Sector Development in Gha-

na the SPSD III will be more focused; with

fewer engagement areas and with a strong

emphasis on making the engagements susta-

inable beyond programme span.

The SPSD II will end by 2015 though some

of the activities supported will be bridged

into the first half of 2016. Formulation of

the next programmatic support to Private

Sector Development, SPSD III, started in

early 2014 and a final programme is envisa-

ged by the end of 2015. This further enables

a short overlap between SPSD II and SPSD

III during 2016.

Danida is phasing out its development aid to

Ghana and ramping up the commercial ties

between the two countries. Therefore the

Trade Council will play a larger role going

forward. A Growth Advisor will join the

Business and Green Growth team in 2015

to bridge this transition. The role of the

Growth Advisor will be strengthen the col-

laboration between authorities in Denmark

and Ghana within the Maritime area to sup-

port a growing commercial engagement

between Denmark and Ghana. The advisor

will have a strong background in the mariti-

me sector as well and will thus also play a

role across programmes as the Danish Em-

bassy is increasingly active in the political

The way forward: An Embassy and a Country in Transition

Denmark - Ghana: New Country Policy Paper - Transition from Aid to Trade

Denmark’s new country policy paper for

support to Ghana for the period 2014 –

2018 is based on the context of the transitio-

nal development of Ghana. Investments and

other financial flows may soon outpace aid

in Ghana. In this new setting, it is the shared

vision of the Government of Ghana and

Denmark that Ghana will gradually become

less dependent on aid. In a transition period

development cooperation between Ghana

and Denmark will be reduced and higher

priority given to commercial and political

partnerships.

The transition from aid to trade will be sup-

ported through facilitated and strengthened

synergies between development cooperation

and commercial activities. Denmark has

been supporting Ghana’s private sector

development since 1992, and the supports

has taken various forms with the last and

final support to private sector development

focusing amongst others on energy and

agriculture. Being a global force within agri-

cultural and energy exports, Denmark seeks

to engage more with Ghana’s private sector

on these themes, which are also key for

Ghana’s development.

New Strategic Partnership

The objectives of the new coun-

try policy paper are:

Strengthened political coopera-

tion based on shared values.

Promotion of inclusive and

green growth.

Economic diplomacy and in-

creased commercial cooperati-

on.

Consolidation of results in de-

velopment programmes.

SPSD III: The expected last cycle of Danida’s Support to Private Sector

Development Programme is planned to start implementation from mid-

2016. In 2014 the Concept Note as well as the requests for proposals for

a formulation team for the SPSD III was finalised. It is expected that

the formulation team will begin their work in Q2 2015 and have the

recommendations for SPSD III framework ready by Q3 for the Business

and Green Growth team to finalise the framework and start preparati-

ons in due time for implementation in 2016. The framework will be mo-

re commercially linked, be focused on strategically important sectors

and have fewer Development engagements.

A farmer at work to increase yields

6

The Ghana National Association of Poultry

Farmers (GNAPF) obtained funding from

the BUSAC Fund to enable them advocate

on the enactment of the Economic Com-

munity of West African States (ECOWAS)

Common External Tariff (CET) on poultry

imports as stated in the nation’s 2011 budg-

et. The CET ensures that all consumable

goods (including poultry products) imported

into ECOWAS member states will attract a

minimum tariff of 20 per cent, thereby mak-

ing the products of local poultry farmers

more competitive domestically.

Following GNAPF’s fruitful dialogue with

relevant state authorities, Ghana’s Ministry

of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) recently

launched the Ghana Broiler Revitalization

Project (GHABROP) which is a ten-year

collaboration between the Government of

Ghana and GNAPF. The project seeks to

develop the poultry industry along the poul-

try value chain and will ensure that produc-

GHABROP is also helping to develop state

of the art poultry processing infrastructure

in Ghana, as well as providing a sustainable

solution to the rising cost of production for

poultry farmers.

BUSAC Fund tion farms, input suppliers, hatcheries, feed

mills, veterinary service producers, proces-

sors, marketers, cold store operators and

consumers all play their roles efficiently to

ensure Ghana’s self-sufficiency in poultry

meat production.

Strategic Focus on Agriculture The Skills Development Fund (SDF) supports Rice Production

SDF makes a positive contribution to skills,

technology and productivity for enhancing

economic growth and creating jobs.

There is tremendous evidence of how

SDF‘s support to the private sector has

aided in the upgrading of skills and techno-

logy leading to productivity enhancement,

development of innovative training content

and the setting up of technology centres to

develop innovative production technologies.

SDF’s contribution has been highly felt in

the agriculture sector where thousands of

poultry, livestock and horticultural farmers

have upgraded their skills and adopted inno-

vative farming methods and technologies

that have tremendously increased their pro-

ductivity. One of SDF’s beneficiaries is the

Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body

(GRIB), which benefitted from a grant to

train hundreds of their members nationwide

in the System of Rice Intensification Tech-

nology, a proven method of increasing rice

productivity by up to 400% on the same

parcel of land. Today, GRIB members nati-

onwide have been able to increase their rice

yield from 2.4 metric tons/hectare to 8

metric tons/hectare.

Ghana is heavily dependent on

the agricultral sector that em-

ployes about 42% of the popu-

lation and is the main source of

income in the rural areas. The-

refore it is prudent to align Da-

nida’s PSD interventions with

the agricultural sector to ache-

ive decent job creation and

inclusive green growth. Danida

is working with the agricultural

sector through all components

of SPSD II and have during

2014 seen good progress as the

Agricultural Value Chain Faci-

lity has ramped up together

with ongoing good results from

both the SDF and BUSAC

A poultry farmer attending to her birds.

Rice farming

7

Adam Niendow Takes a Giant Step towards Wealth Creation and Economic Freedom

Agriculture Value Chain Facility (AVCF)

The Agricultural Value Chain Facility

(AVCF) aims at enhancing access to finance

and business services to commercial as well

as rural smallholder farmers and other ac-

tors in the value chains of soybean, rice and

maize. The support focuses on improving

access to long term finance and technical

assistance to key players in the value chain.

The results so far through the combined

efforts of Integrated Agricultural Productivi-

ty Improvement and Marketing Project

(INTAPIMP) and Agricultural Value Chain

Mentorship Project (AVCMP) grants in-

clude the following:

About 28,000 farmers have been registered

as project beneficiaries. They are receiving

technical training in Integrated Soil Fertility

Management (ISFM) and Business Develop-

ment Services (BDS).

Over 4,000 farmers were supported with

inputs credit from service providers who the

project linked up with the farmer based

organisations (FBOs). Service providers

through these linkages have opened outlets

within the project communities to serve the

FBOs with inputs. This has reduced the

travel distances for the FBOs to procure

inputs and has also increased input sales.

The AVCF project has won the confidence

of the private sector who are collaborating

with the project to engage the over 16,000

farmers as out-growers to feed into their

secured output markets connecting with all

value chain actors (agro-dealers, aggregators

and the banks) in the current implementing

process of the AVCF program.

744 lead farmers have been trained and are

providing support in both the input and

output market for farmers in their commu-

nities.

373 Community Volunteer Extension

Workers were trained and mentored, and

they are playing a critical role in extension

delivery services in the target communities.

They are helping to fill the gap created by

the limited Ministry of Food Agriculture

Extension officers.

Agro inputs dealers and other SMEs have

opened market outlets and increased their

sales as a result of the linkages created be-

tween the various value chain actors.

out of the in-kind recovery by bartering six

(6) bags of maize for one cattle with Fulani

herdsmen. This exercise yields nine (9) cattle

over the past three years. Although the

arrangement of hiring tractors to provide

services to farmers has enabled him to serve

his ‘own’ people and through that acquired

livestock as security and built his resilience,

he could serve farmers better and make

more profit by acquiring his own tractor.

He found a second hand 375 Massey-

Ferguson for GH¢ 31,000 (approx. $10,000)

and made an initial deposit of GH¢ 4,000

(approx. $1,250) leaving a balance of GH¢

27,000 ($8,750) to pay. Because he could not

raise his own money to pay for the differ-

ence, he approached ADRA Ghana one of

the partners under the AVCF. ADRA Gha-

na linked Mr. Adam Niendow to Sinapi Aba

and was able to access GH¢ 27,000 term

loan to purchase the tractor.

With his own tractor and a hired one in

addition, Mr. Niendow has made the first

installment payment. He hopes to continue

to work very hard to pay off his loan even

before the scheduled repayment period and

to acquire a new tractor every year. Mr.

Niendow is grateful to ADRA Ghana for

linking him to Sinapi Aba to access the loan

to purchase his own tractor. It is his hope

that the support will enable him to provide

timely ploughing services to farmers in his

district and beyond thereby help to create

employment opportunities for farmers and

service providers in the districts and region

as whole.

The journey of Mr. Adam Niendow a trac-

tor operator for the past 21 years to wealth

creation and economic freedom through

provision of quality ploughing services has

begun with his linkage to Sinapi Aba

through Adventist Development and Relief

Agency Ghana (ADRA Ghana) under the

guarantee term financing scheme.

Adam Niendow from Kanpongyili in Cen-

tral Gonja district hired tractors to provide

ploughing services to farmers for both in

kind and cash payment terms. For those

farmers he ploughed for on credit, after

recovery, he made sure he got three cattle Mr. Niendow in his newly aquired tractor

8

Contribution of the INTAPIMP to the AVCF

2.2 Agriculture Value Chain Facility

Strategic Focus on Energy Promotion of inclusive and green growth is

a strategic objective in the Denmark-Ghana

Country Policy Paper/new strategic partner-

ship 2014-2018. The establishment of the

Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) is

at the core of this objective. As part of the

SPSD II, Danida has after thorough market

and stakeholder analysis in 2013 decided to

support the establishment of the GCIC with

DKK 65 million.

As a global concept designed and financially

administered by infoDev (a partnership

programme within The World Bank Group),

the GCIC aims at transforming climate

challenges into market opportunities. With

the objectives of addressing climate chal-

lenges and creating opportunities for job

creation and inclusive economic growth, the

GCIC is expected to support more than 400

companies, create 10,000 jobs and mitigate

over 200,000 tons of CO2e over the next 10

years.

Contrary to previous climate/energy sup-

port by Danida in Ghana, the GCIC is pri-

vate sector-led, and while initial donor fund-

ing will ensure the establishment of the

GCIC’s core structure and programme, it is

expected that the GCIC will generate the

majority of necessary income for continued

operations beyond the first five years (2014-

2018).

Climate Innovation Center Services

Trade Council: Business Delegation to Denmark

3. Market Growth and Access Services - by

providing market information and creat-

ing linkages to domestic and global mar-

kets.

4. Technology and Product Development -

through technical support and collabora-

tion with Research and Develop-

ment/academia.

5. Policy and Regulatory Support - through

public-private partnerships.

The Ghanaian Business Delegation made

up of 11 business people had a successful

three (3) days mission to Denmark from

November 18th to 20th, 2014 to witness at

first-hand, Danish technologies and efficient

solutions in renewable energies and environ-

ment related technologies. The delegation

had the opportunity to see the innovative,

smart technologies and quality products that

make Denmark a front runner in green

sustainable technologies.

The programme commenced with a welco-

me ceremony at the Confederation of Da-

nish Industries where the delegation was

welcomed by H.E. Ambassador of Ghana to

Denmark, Madam Edith Haizel, Deputy

Director of the Confederation of Danish

Industries, Mr. Niels T. Kristensen and Ms.

Susanne Hyldelund head of the Trade

Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

of Denmark. This was followed by a visit to

State of Green, the official green brand of

Denmark. State of Green is the gateway to

learn about the ambitious Danish plan to

reach the target of 100% renewable energy

consumption by 2050 .

The delegation visited nine (9) companies

across eight (8) cities in Denmark.

In her message to the delegates, Ambassa-

dor Edith Haizel stated “although my tenure

as Ambassador of Ghana to Denmark star-

ted only in July this year, I have already been

fascinated, by the enormous potentials of

this country, which could help transform

Ghana. Denmark is not a big country in

terms of size and population, but it posses-

ses advanced technology and innovations

that are critical to propel and sustain Gha-

na’s transformation”.

The delegation was impressed with the new

technologies whose operations they witnes-

sed and very excited about the prospects of

transferring these to Ghana.

As a one-stop-shop targeting climate tech-

nology for SMEs within Energy Efficiency,

Domestic Waste Management, Renewable

Energy, Water Management and Climate

Smart Agriculture, the GCIC will be built

around five main services:

1. Entrepreneurship and Venture Accelera-

tion—by offering business and technical

training and mentoring.

2. Access to Finance - including proof of

concept grants and seed capital invest-

ment.

9

2.2 Agriculture Value Chain Facility

Skills Development Fund (SDF)

Challenge funds

The Skills Development Fund (SDF) built

upon gains made in 2013 by accelerating its

outreach, subscriptions and disbursements.

In 2014, 1,368 applications were received

under the 4th and 5th Calls for Proposal out

of which 307 were approved to pave way

for the financing and implementation of

various innovative skills and technology

development projects aimed at increasing

productivity and promoting competitiveness

in the private sector.

As of 2014, SDF’s support to 617 grantees

had resulted in:

The development of 42 Innovative

training courses

The acquisition of 23 innovative tech-

nologies for the private sector

The establishment of 12 Technology

Centers to develop innovative technolo-

gy for industry

The training of 38, 171 Employees/

Members of Trade Associations &

Farmer Based Groups

The BUSAC Fund aims at supporting the

private sector to engage with the public

sector to enhance the creation of an ena-

bling business environment.

In 2014, the BUSAC Fund awarded 27 invi-

tational grants to business associations,

bringing the number of active/ongoing

grants up to 199 . The support enabled the

beneficiary grantees to engage in evidence-

based policy dialogue with public officials

and other duty bearers to facilitate the re-

view of laws/policies that hinder the growth

of businesses within the Ghanaian private

sector.

In an attempt to identify successful grantees

among the BUSAC Fund’s beneficiaries, the

BUSAC Fund conducted a survey on 556

completed grants from Phase I and Phase II

as of 31 May, 2014. Findings of the survey

indicate that 238 out of the 556 grants sur-

veyed had actually achieved the objectives of

their advocacy action.

Award from

CIMG In recognition of the

BUSAC Fund’s sup-

port for the Ghanaian

private sector, the

Fund was, for the

fourth time in a row,

awarded the prestig-

ious Chartered Insti-

tute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG) Hall of

Fame accolade for being the “Not-for-

Profit-Making Organization of the Year-

2013”.

Business Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC Fund)

As a result of the association’s advocacy

action, Ghana’s Energy Commission has

started licensing all the electrical contractors

across all the ten (10) regions in Ghana and

creating a fair standard for the industry. This

move has the potential of curbing the infil-

tration of the market by uncertified electrical

contractors, thereby halting the decline of

business opportunities for GECA members

and ensuring safety for firms and homes.

The leadership of GECA is very confident

about getting more business opportunities

as duty bearers are currently making efforts

to eradicate unlicensed practitioners from

the electrical installation industry.

For many years the leadership of Ghana

Electrical Contractors Association (GECA)

noted that business opportunities for their

members have been dwindling as a result of

the influx of unlicensed and unqualified

electrical contractors into the electrical in-

stallation industry in Ghana. To halt this

negative trend, members of GECA sought

support from the BUSAC Fund to enable

them advocate on the enforcement of stand-

ards for Ghana’s electrical installation indus-

try.

Sanitizing Electrical Installation Practices in Ghana

In 2014 SDF received the

highest number of annual

applications (1,368) and ap-

proved the highest number of

annual applications (307)

worth UD$ 30 Million

10

Contribution of the INTAPIMP to the AVCF

2.2 Agriculture Value Chain Facility The focus of the Rural Finance under the

SPSD II is to support the ARB Apex Bank

and its network of Rural Community Banks

(RCBs) to build their capacities and provide

them with funds to provide quality financial

products and services to boost rural enter-

prise development.

Highlights for 2014 include;

Sixty-eight (68) RCBs classified as ‘Fair’,

‘Marginal’ and ‘Unsatisfactory’ participated

in the training programmes organized by

Apex Bank during the year; they comprised

59 ‘Fair’ rated and 9 ‘Marginal’ rated RCBs.

The training programmes were attended by

777 staff members from the classified RCBs;

made up of 629 males and 148 females.

For the last half of the year, Apex Bank in

collaboration with DANIDA assisted weak

performing RCBs to recruit and train 15

university/polytechnic graduates. The grad-

uates were attached to strong performing

Access to finance

RCBs for a period of six months after which

they are deployed to assist some least per-

forming RCBs

A total of GH¢ 9.8 million was disbursed to

nine (9) RCBs between January and Decem-

ber 2014 for on-lending to their customers

to undertake the following investment pro-

jects: sachet water production, acquisition of

fuel tankers, construction of schools and

Rural Finance

Danida Business Instruments

Graduate Trainees at the Review Workshop at Noda Hotel

hotels, and expansion of cold stores among

others.

Since the commencement of disbursements

in September 2012, a total amount of 19.1

million GH¢ has been provided to 26 RCBs.

The Bank has received principal repayments

totalling 4.5 million GH¢ up to the end of

December 2014 with a repayment rate of

99.5 percent.

Beneficiary from Rural Finance Wholesale Fund

Mr. Joseph Cobbinah is the Managing Di-

rector of First Kitchen Company ltd., a

groundnut paste producing company.

Amantin & Kasei Rural Community Bank

Limited extended a loan facility of GH¢

50,000.00 to First Kitchen to augment the

production capacity of their facility, by con-

structing a new structure which is more

hygienic and environmentally friendly

Since constructing the structure, the busi-

ness has engaged eleven (11) additional

workers.

Mr. Cobbinah stated that he would like to

have more equipment to aid in enhancing

production of the groundnut paste. Howev-

er, he would like to pay off the current facil-

ity before applying for a new facility.

Mr. Cobbinah displaying one of the groundnut paste in a sachet

11

Danida Business Explorer

Danida Business Instruments

carry out a delegation visit or invite new

business partners or customers to Denmark

as part of promoting develop-

ment, sustainable economic growth and job

creation in developing countries. The facility

co-finances up to 75% of the approved

travel costs.

Danida Business Delegations is a joint ex-

port programme aiming at promoting Dan-

ish companies’ export, internationalisation

and trade with developing countries while at

the same time contributing to sustainable

development, economic growth and job

creation in these developing countries.

Danish companies have the possibility to

Ghana requires an enabling environment for

the private sector to create economic

growth which is one of the preconditions

for effective poverty alleviation. Danida

Business Instruments seek to strengthen the

private sector by providing opportunities to

Danish companies and organisations to

participate in the transfer of knowledge,

sustainable business practice and technology

Danida Business Delegations

Danida Business Explorer provides financial

support to Danish companies in connection

with the companies’ investigation of a speci-

fic business opportunity in a developing

country in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Projects to be considered for support must

address local development needs with a

focus on contributing to sustainable growth

and employment, and responsible business

in accordance with the principles of the UN

Global Compact and the UN Guiding Prin-

ciples on Business and Human Rights.

Danida Business Explorer is available in

countries eligible for Danish development

cooperation (GNI below USD 3,300 per

capita in 2015), with a Danish representati-

on, and where there are opportunities for

facilitating private sector development

within the economic and political context of

the country.

Danida Business Finance increases access to

long-term financing through involvement of

commercial actors for investments in im-

portant infrastructure, especially in Africa,

which will lay the groundwork for economic

growth. DB Finance targets key infrastruc-

ture sectors where investment improves the

climate for economic development, in par-

ticular for the private sector. The main sec-

tors are transportation, energy, water supply

and sanitation. In all areas, climate-friendly

and cleaner technology is a top priority. The

subsidy consist of up to three elements:

Payment of interest – in full or in part.

Payment of the export credit premium

and other financial costs.

Cash grant to reduce the principal of the

loan, if the above does not amount to

the subsidy level required by the ruling

OECD agreement.

Ghanaian delegation visits the Danish mariti-

me Authority in March 2015

Danida Business Finance

Fibre Optic Broadband Infrastructure project in

Ghana, May 2015

and innovative solutions in order to

strengthen the business environment of

Ghana.

The Danida Business instruments comprise

of:

Danida Business Delegations

Danida Business Finance

Danida Business Explorer Danida Business Instruments

Inauguration of the Fibre Optic Broadband Infra-

structure project in Ghana, May 2015

12

Sounding Board The sounding board is a selected team of

private sector and industry professionals

that guide the Business Team at the Embas-

sy by articulating the needs, challenges and

prospects of the private sector based on

their related experiences. The members are;

LUCY QUIST

Lucy is a Chartered

Electrical and Electron-

ics Engineer, holds a

first class Bachelor of

Engineering degree and

an MBA from IN-

SEAD .Lucy is the CEO of Airtel Ghana

DR. YAW ADU- GYAMFI

Dr. Yaw Adu-

Gyamfi holds a

doctorate de-

gree in Phar-

macy from

Mercer Univer-

sity in Atlanta Georgia, USA, and an Execu-

tive MBA from the Ghana Institute of Ma-

nagement and Public Administration

(GIMPA), Accra, Ghana. He is the Vice

president of the AGI and the CEO of Dan-

pong Group of Companies and Danadams

Pharmaceuticals Ind. ltd.

FRANKLIN CUDJOE

Frankilin is the foun-

ding President and

CEO of IMANI Cen-

ter for Policy and

Education, a Ghana-

based think-tank and

research institute dedicated to the promoti-

on of the institutions of a free society

throughout Africa. IMANI has been consi-

stently ranked among the top 10 think tanks

in Africa and among the top 100 worldwide.

DR. JOYCE ARYEE

Dr. Joyce Rose-

lind Aryee is a

former CEO of

the Ghana

Chamber of

Mines. She is a

board member of Students in Free Enterpri-

se (SIFE), Central University College, Stan-

bic Bank and the Bible Society of Ghana.

MR. ELIZABETH VILLARS

Mrs. Elizabeth

Joyce Villars is the

Board Chairman

and Founder of

Camelot Ghana

Limited. She is the

past president of the AGI as well as a past

president of the Private Enterprise Federati-

on (now Private Enterprise Federation). She

is currently the Chairman of the Steering

Committee of the BUSAC Fund.

ALBERT OSEI

Albert Osei is the Chief

Executive Officer of

Koko King Limited, a

company he established

in 2007.Albert’s invol-

vement in transforming

business development partnerships is his

contribution to building economic leader-

ship and entrepreneurship in Ghana.

ESTER COBBAH

Esther Cobbah

heads a Commu-

nication and Rep-

utation Manage-

ment company,

Strategic Commu-

nications Africa

Ltd. that she founded. Strategic Communi-

cations Africa Limited (Stratcomm Africa)

DR. MRS. ELLEN HAGAN

Dr. Mrs. Ellen Hagan is a human resource

practitioner with over

25 years’ experience.

She has represented

the Ghana Employers’

Association (GEA)

during International

Labour Organisation (ILO) conferences on

numerous occasions. She is also an Honora-

ry Fellow of the Boardroom Institute of the

Graduate School of Governance and

Leadership. She is the CEO of L’AINE

Services Limited a self-owned, self-managed

wholly Ghanaian employment and training

organisation with about 3,000 members of

staff

PATRICK AWUAH

Patrick Awuah is the founder and president

of Ashesi University, a

private, not-for-profit

institution in Ghana

specializing in economics

and computer science.

He served as program

manager in the Business systems division of

Microsoft. He holds a bachelor's degree in

Engineering and Economics from Swarth-

more College, and an MBA from University

of California at Berkeley

13

Business Partners 2014 SPSD II

PSDS

Minister for Trade and Industry, Honourable Ekwow Spio-Garbah

Minister of State at the Presidency in charge of Public Private Partnership, Honourable Rashid Pelpuo

PSDS II Coordinator, Mr Joe Tackie

info@moti.gov.gh

BUSAC

Fund Manager, Nicolas Jørgensen Gebara

Deputy Fund Manager, Zakaria Umar Sumaila

contact@busac.org

SDF

COTVET Executive Director, Sebastian Deh

COTVET/SDF Programme Coordinator, Matthew Dally

SDF Fund Manager, Ato Simpson

admin@cotvet.org

AGRA

Country Director, Kwasi Ampofo

Project Coordinator, Wilson Doku

info-accra@agra-alliance.org

ARB Apex Bank

Head, Project and Credit, Richard Mettle Addo

Deputy Head, Projects and Credit, Enoch Richard Arkaifie

Asst. Programme Manager, John Asante

apex@arbapexbank.com

Stanbic Bank

Head, New Markets & Segment Propositions, Mark Y Achiampong

Agricultural Relationship Executive, Genius S. Kissiedu

stanbicGhanaCCC@stanbic.com.gh

Sinapi Aba Trust

CEO, Tony Fosu

COO, Aaron Rex Opoku Ahene

infodesk@sinapiaba.com

UT Bank Ltd

CEO, Prince Kofi Amoabeng

Unit Head, Agric Financing, Mubarak N. Bowan

enquiries@utbankghana.com

EY

Partner– Advisory Services, Djabanor Narh

Advisory, services, Yvette-Marie Ntrakwah

info@gh.ey.com

2.2 Agriculture Value Chain Facility

The INTAPIMP (Adventist

Development and Relief Agency

(ADRA) Grant after just one

(2013) year cropping season has

demonstrated strong capabilities

for enhancing the overall perfor-

mance of the AVCF project.

The project has added 5,132

farmers who have been support-

ed and linked to various value

chain services. It also widened

the coverage of the AVCF to the

entire northern region (26 ad-

ministrative districts).

To

The Integrated Agricultural

Productivity Improvement and

Marketing Project

(INTAPIMP) which is a three-

year new integrated value

chain project is developed to

complement the no-going

ACVF mentorship sub-facility.

Over the three year (2013-

2015) period, INTAPIMP will

be providing support to addi-

tional 10,000 farmers and this

is meant to improve the cover-

age of the AVCF from 20,000

to 30,000farmers and being by

ADRA.

Support to Private Sector Development

Lars Jøker: Head of Business and Green Growth. larjok@um.dk

Emmanuel Kodwo Sackey: Programme Officer SPSD II. emmsac@um.dk

Danida Business Instruments and Trade Council

Jacob Kahl Jepsen: Development and Business Attaché. jajeps@um.dk

Linda Kafui Abbah-Foli: Programme Officer DBP. linabb@um.dk

Investment Fund for Developing Countries

Nana Yaw Kwakye: Investment Manager, IFU. nyk@ifu.dk

The Business and Green Growth Team

Embassy of Denmark, Ghana

67, Dr. Isert Road

North Ridge

P.O. Box CT 596

Tel.: +233 (0) 30 220 8730

Mob.: +233 (0) 54 011 6703

accamb@um.dk