H.E. Mr. Abdelaziz KHELEF, Director General of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), arrived on Saturday 30th of June 2007, at Accra capital of the Republic of Ghana, as part of a regional visit to the Republics of Ghana, Togo and Benin from 01/07/2007 to 11/07/2007.

During his visit to the Republic of Ghana, he received by H.E. the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, and other high-ranking government officials.

Talks covered areas of cooperation between the Republic of Ghana and BADEA, with the objective of exploring the best means to promote and develop the relations and realize the objectives of development in Ghana.

During the visit to Ghana the Director General attended the 9th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union.

By the end of June 2007, BADEA’s assistance to Ghana reached the sum of US $ 151.672 million to finance 28 development operations, in addition to an amount totaling 8.3 million representing BADEA's participation in reducing the debt of the Republic of Ghana in the frame- work of HIPC initiation.

BADEA’s financing operations have grown since 1975, to reach US $ 3315.982 million by end of June 2007, and have been earmarked to finance 421 development projects, 396 technical assistance operations, 28 loans for the private sector and 14 special operations (in the context of Emergency Aid Programme operations for the benefit of several African countries effected by drought and desertification).

BADEA’s operations cover all 43 eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, in addition to a number of regional organizations. They cover infrastructure, agriculture, rural development, energy, industry, social and financial sector in the form of project loans and technical assistance grants.

The projects selected by BADEA are directed towards improving the living conditions of the target beneficiaries, particularly those projects related to rural development and environment, such as rural water supply and sewage, or those aiming at reducing negative impact of drought and desertification, and reducing poverty. This is obviously in line with current approaches to development.