Finance Ministry to raise GHC8bn relief package to deal with dry spell in northern Ghana
Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam Antah, has said that the directive from President Akufo-Addo, is an indication of the government’s commitment towards supporting those affected.
At a press briefing in Accra Monday, August 26, 2024, the Minister disclosed that the package will include cash transfers, food supplies, and other essential items for the affected farmers.
He added that the Ministries of Finance and Food and Agriculture will provide a technical task force to spearhead the distribution to ensure it is executed fairly.
According to the Minister, although the government’s support may not provide absolute relief for the extent of the damage, he believes it may go a long way to stabilise the situation to some extent until the crisis is curbed.
“Our response may not entirely neutralise the extent of the problem. But our response certainly will help in stabilising the situation until we get out of the crisis. And so, as the Minister for Food and Agriculture said, we are seeking to raise about $500 million, the equivalent of GH₵8 billion, to fund the crisis response programme,” Dr. Amin Adam stated.
He said that although the buffers are almost depleted, the State has to raise the money to assist the victims.
“This is difficult but we have to raise the funds. As a responsible and sensitive government as we are, the President has directed that we do everything within our power to find the money and fund the government response,” he stated.
The Minister disclosed that government is expecting GHC2.5 billion from development partners including the World Bank, adding that government has already raised up to $160 million which is about GHC2.5 billion from the contingency fund.
He explained that the World Bank’s support would come in as cash transfers and provision of agricultural inputs to aid the recovery whilst the amount raised by the government would be used to acquire more grains to support the farmers.
“So out of the GH₵8 billion we are seeking to mobilise, we can say that we have visibility of about GH₵5 billion that we want to use quickly to respond to the crisis,” he stated.
source: onuanews
