European Investment Bank offers Ghana €82.5M grant to boost health care

By: Enoch Fiifi Forson

ACCRA, Ghana (AA) - The European Investment Bank will provide Ghana a grant of €82.5 million ($93.2 million) to help the country strengthen its healthcare system amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an announcement on Monday.

In a statement following a meeting in Luxembourg with EIB head Werner Hoyer, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo welcomed the support offered to his country for the provision of medical equipment and medicine, under its national health response plan against COVID-19.

"The new agreement with Ghana represents the largest national EIB financing for COVID related health investment in Africa," he added.

With over 130,000 reported COVID-19 cases including the omicron variant, Ghana banned all unvaccinated people from flying to the country as of Tuesday.

Airlines that bring in passengers who are not fully vaccinated will face fines of $3,500 per passenger, while non-Ghanaians who fall into this category may be refused entry and be returned to the boarding point.

Akufo-Addo was in Luxembourg for a working visit as part of efforts to deepen bilateral ties and cooperation between the two countries.

He held a discussion with the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri Albert Gabriel Felix Marie Guillaume, before proceeding to hold bilateral talks with the country's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. The meeting ended with the two countries signing bilateral agreements on air services and double taxation.