Gov’t to raise $500m to deal with drought in Northern Ghana

The Minister for Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has revealed that the government is seeking to raise US$500 million to address the ongoing drought in northern Ghana.

Northern Ghana has been grappling with a drought for about two months, posing a significant threat to food security in the country.

During a press conference on Monday, August 26, 2024, Dr. Adam stated that part of the funds will be distributed directly to farmers, while the remainder will be used to purchase food, agricultural inputs, and relief items for those affected.

He assured the public that the government will ensure accountability, with the Ministries of Agriculture and Finance overseeing the process.

The Minister added, “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.”

“And so as the Honorable Minister for Food and Agriculture said, we are seeking to raise about 500 million U.S. dollars, the equivalent of 8 billion Ghana Cedis, to fund the crisis response programme,” he explained.

Dr. Adam added that the fund is supported by the World Bank and the Government of Ghana, with GH₵2.5 billion drawn from the contingency fund and GH₵2.4 billion provided by development partners.