France gives €200,000 support to EC

Accra, April 15, GNA - The French government is to provide a 200,000-euro financial support to Ghana's Electoral Commission to ensure a credible conduct of the 2004 elections in December. The amount is to be deposited in the common fund established within the Electoral Commission. An agreement to that effect was signed between the French Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Jean-Michel Berrit and Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of the Electoral Commission, a release from the French Embassy said on Thursday. The release said France would also support civil society organisations, particularly the media through training courses for journalists who will be engaged in the coverage of the electoral campaign in Accra and in the ten regions. The training programme will be carried out jointly with the United Nations Development Programme and implemented by the Ghana Journalists Association. The statement quoted Mr Berrit as saying that the French Government's decision to support the electoral process was in recognition for democratic values in Ghana and the excellent work achieved by the Electoral Commission.