A Britsh business delegation has signed deals in Ghana worth £30m which will see up to 1600 new jobs in the country and neighbouring Nigeria.
According to a statement from the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office on Tuesday the accord will create at least 150 jobs in Britain UK;and help transform agriculture in Ghana.
Speaking in Ghana on the second day of his trip to Africa on Tuesday, the Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt commits to supporting the country beyond aid.
He highlighted how UK aid is building partnerships and boosting prosperity across the continent, welcoming new business deals with British companies in Ghana and Nigeria worth £82 million.
Ghana has approved a £26 million agreement with British business Aqua Africa to reduce water poverty in the country.
This new business link will create 600 new jobs in the region and will help at least 250,000 people access clean water, the statement said.
This follows the announcement earlier this year of £130 million of UK Export Finance backed projects, including a £78.4 million project to expand and refurbish Kumasi Market in Ghana’s second city.
This project, due to break ground on 2 May 2019, is in one of the biggest trading hubs in West Africa, and will provide upgraded, modern facilities allowing the market to grow and prosper, directly supporting Ghana’s economic development.
Travelling to Nigeria later on Thursday for the inaugural meeting of the UK/Nigeria Economic Development Forum, the Foreign Secretary will also announce a £56 million deal which will see British technology helping to keep Nigeria’s commuters on the move.
Speaking in Abuja the Foreign Secretary will announce that British firm Bekoz, in collaboration with pan-African firm Interswitch, will be providing the contactless card technology that allows people to travel around Nigeria’s travel infrastructure, similar to London’s Oyster system.
Much of the manufacturing will be done in Wales, and the deal is expected to create jobs in the UK.
WN/as/APA