The Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has urgently requested emergency funding to address a critical food security crisis threatening over 900,000 farmers across eight regions of the country. The appeal comes in response to a severe drought that has drastically disrupted crop production in the Northern, Upper East, North East, Savannah, Upper West, Bono, Bono East, and Oti regions.
In a recent press release, Dr. Adam revealed that the Ministry of Finance received a communication from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) on August 19, 2024. The letter detailed the dire effects of prolonged poor rainfall, which have led to food shortages, a decline in GDP, and rising security threats in the affected regions.
“The Ministry has received letter no. SC504/505/03 dated August 19, 2024, from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), requesting funding to implement a National Emergency Response Programme to address an imminent food security crisis,” Dr. Adam stated.
MoFA’s letter highlighted the urgent need for approximately GH¢8.36 billion to avert a full-blown crisis. The proposed measures include purchasing existing stock from farmers, urgently importing grains, and providing cash transfers and input support to those affected.
However, Dr. Adam pointed out the government’s financial limitations, noting that the requested amount constitutes unplanned expenditure not accounted for in the 2024 Budget. “The government cannot fund the GH¢8.36 billion request solely by reallocating existing budget lines in the 2024 Budget,” he explained.
In response, the Finance Minister has sought approval from the Finance Committee to withdraw GH¢500 million from the Contingency Fund. If approved, this withdrawal will be supplemented by additional support from development partners and a realignment of fiscal operations within the existing budget framework.
Dr. Adam stressed the urgency of the situation, warning of the heightened risk of extremism in the five Northern Regions and three Transitional Zones if the crisis is not addressed swiftly. “Your urgent approval would enable the Government to implement the critical measures required to address the situation,” he urged.
This call for emergency funding highlights the severe food security crisis facing Ghana as the country grapples with the impacts of climate change and other external shocks. The government’s prompt and decisive action will be crucial in mitigating the potential economic and security fallout.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
