The Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has written to Parliament requesting funding estimated at GH₵8.36 billion to implement measures aimed at averting an impending food shortage in the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture has stated that protracted poor rainfall in eight regions—Northern, Upper East, North East, Savannah, Upper West, Bono, Bono East, and Oti—has significantly disrupted crop production.
In the letter dated August 27, 2024, the Finance Ministry explained that it plans to undertake several measures: mopping up stocks from farmers, urgent importation of grains, and providing cash transfers as well as input support to affected farmers.
It added that, in light of these measures, the Ministry “request approval from the Finance Committee for the withdrawal of GH¢500 million from the Contingency Fund, in accordance with Article 177 subsection 1 of the 1992 Constitution, Section 36 subsection 1 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) as well as Section 227 subsection 1 of the Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana”.
“To complement this withdrawal, Government is mobilizing support from Development Partners as well as realigning approved fiscal operations in the 2024 Budget” a portion of the letter read.
Below is a copy of the letter:
