US gov’t initiates $60m food security project to reduce hunger in Northern Ghana

The US government is supporting a $60 million USAID (US Agency for International Development) initiative that will help increase food security and improve nutrition for people living in the northern part of Ghana.

The initiative, Resiliency in Northern Ghana, is expected to benefit more than 367,000 people in the Northern Region, according to a statement issued by the US Embassy in Accra June 27, 2012 and copied to ghanabusinessnews.com. The initiative will help them cope with natural disasters such as droughts or floods, and fluctuating food prices.

“The American people will provide up to $28 million of the initiative’s funds directly to the Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP), to be disbursed to the 12 targeted District Assemblies and the Northern Region Coordinating Council (NRCC),” the statement said.

According to officials, District Assemblies and the NRCC will be able to implement activities with these funds, while USAID will also provide technical and capacity building support for those activities.

The US government, represented by the USAID and the Government of Ghana have therefore signed a Basic Implementation Letter to transfer an initial tranche of $11 million of funding for the programme activities.

Ghana’s Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, signed for Ghana, while the USAID/Ghana Mission Director, Ms. Cheryl Anderson, signed for the US government.

By Ekow Quandzie