Government Allocates GH₵8Bb to Support Farmers Affected by Severe Drought in Northern

The Minister for Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has announced that the government has allocated 8 billion Ghana Cedis to provide relief and implement mitigative measures for farmers impacted by the ongoing drought in Northern Ghana.

The region has been experiencing a severe dry spell for over two months, causing widespread concerns about food security and threatening the livelihoods of thousands of farmers.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, August 26, Dr. Amin Adam emphasized the government's commitment to stabilizing the situation, even though the measures may not fully neutralize the crisis. "Our response may not entirely neutralize the extent of the problem. But our response certainly will help in stabilizing the situation until we get out of the crisis," he stated.

The 8 billion Ghana Cedis relief package, equivalent to approximately 500 million U.S. dollars, will include cash transfers and the supply of food and other essential items to affected farmers. Dr. Amin Adam also revealed that 2.5 billion of the allocated funds will be sourced from the contingency fund, with an additional 2.4 billion Cedis coming as support from development partners, including the World Bank.

A technical task force, comprising representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Food and Agriculture, will be established to monitor the distribution of relief items, ensuring fairness and accountability throughout the process. The World Bank's contribution will specifically be used for cash transfers and the supply of agricultural inputs to help farmers recover from the devastating effects of the drought.

This intervention comes at a critical time as Northern Ghana faces a severe drought, with many farmers losing hope for a successful harvest. The government's swift action aims to mitigate the impact of the drought and support farmers in navigating this challenging period