This case study of the Sixth Power Project in Ghana is an empirical analysis
first, to investigate whether tied foreign aid funded inputs bear additional
costs on account of price mark-up and, second, to assess the impact of the cost
of tying on the concessionality of the assistance. The excess cost of tying
is estimated following the costdifference method and the impact
of tying on the concessionality of aid is assessed through the shadow
grant element. The basic conclusion reached from the analysis is that
there is significant mark-up on the prices of funded inputs relative to the
prices from alternative sources of supply. The price mark-up reduces significantly
the concession embodied in the aid flows. On the part of donors, it is argued
that there is need for action to liberalize the market for the supply of aid
exports. Finally, while the mark-up on prices of tied aid inputs may be a price
Ghana had to pay to receive the assistance, the cost to Ghana of tying provides
a case for the cancellation of aid debt of the country. |