Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam
The Government has allocated GH¢8 billion to address some of the challenges facing farmers affected by dry spell in the eight regions of the country.
Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, who announced this on Monday at the Ministry of Information’s “Meet the Press” in Accra said these measures among others would not only address the plight of the farmers but would also go a long way to stabilise the situation.
He said apart from the GH¢500 million that is feasible to be generated, the government was collaborating with other agencies to raise additional GH¢3 billion to be able to get the GH¢8 billion to fund government support for the programme.
“GH¢2.5 billion will come from the contingency fund, development partners,” he said. “It is a crisis and others are already feeling it. It is important that government responds”.
He said agriculture is the major contributor to Ghana’s growth and may be in danger in addition to pricing.
He said the World Bank will provide GH¢2.4 billion which will specifically be used for cash transfers and the provision of farming inputs.
The relief package includes cash transfers and the distribution of food and other essential items to the affected farmers.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah