The Government of Ghana, led by Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, is urgently seeking to raise $500 million (approximately GH₵8 billion) to fund a comprehensive crisis response program aimed at addressing the severe agricultural challenges affecting several regions in the country.
This initiative follows alarming reports of widespread crop failures and food insecurity, which threaten to derail the nation’s economic growth.
During a recent visit to farms in the hardest-hit districts, alongside the President and the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Amin Adam expressed deep concern over the dire situation facing farmers.
"The situation is dire. Farmers are worried about how they will feed their families, and the current rains, though helpful, are insufficient to ensure the full maturity of crops," he stated.
Dr. Amin Adam outlined the broader economic implications of the crisis, particularly the risks it poses to the government’s focus on sustaining economic growth and reducing inflation.
"We were optimistic about continuing our positive growth trend, but with agriculture—a key contributor to our economy—under threat, our growth trajectory is now at risk," he warned.
To address the crisis, Dr. Amin Adam revealed that the government is mobilizing significant resources.
"We are undertaking budgetary alignments to reallocate funds originally earmarked for other purposes. So far, we've managed to mobilize nearly GH₵2.5 billion from the budget," he explained.
In addition to domestic efforts, the government is also relying on support from development partners.
"In a short period, we have secured $155 million, which translates to almost GH₵2.5 billion. Together, this gives us visibility of about GH₵5 billion to respond to this crisis," Dr. Amin Adam noted.
However, with the total funding requirement pegged at GH₵8 billion, the Finance Minister emphasized the urgency of raising the remaining funds.
"Our coffers are nearly depleted as we enter the final months of the fiscal year, but we are committed to taking the necessary actions to stabilize the situation and protect our economy," he assured.
Dr. Amin Adam concluded by reaffirming the government’s determination to tackle the crisis head-on.
"While our response may not fully resolve the problem, it will certainly help stabilize the situation until we can navigate out of this crisis," he affirmed.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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