U.S. Embassy Provides $1.7 Million to Support Drought Victims in Northern Ghana
U.S. Embassy Provides $1.7 Million to Support Drought Victims in Northern Ghana
- This support will be channeled through the LEAP program
- The Ghanaian government has already allocated GH¢8 billion
- Ambassador Palmer emphasized that the U.S. Embassy's intervention
The U.S. Embassy in Accra has committed $1.7 million (nearly GH¢30 million) to assist drought-affected communities in Northern Ghana and the middle belt.
This support will be channeled through the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program.
U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia E. Palmer announced the funding during a press briefing following the launch of the Coastal States Stability Mechanism (CSSM). The funding will be crucial in addressing the challenges faced by communities impacted by the ongoing drought.
The Ghanaian government has already allocated GH¢8 billion to provide relief for farmers and implement drought mitigation measures.
According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the drought has significantly affected maize, rice, groundnut, soybean, sorghum, millet, and yam production in eight regions. Over 980,000 farmers cultivating an estimated 1.8 million hectares of land have been affected, with potential losses reaching GH¢22.2 billion.
The Northern Regional Department of Agriculture reports that 460,784 hectares of farms, representing 60 percent of the region’s cultivated land, have been negatively impacted by the dry spell.
Projections by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicate a significant decline in the country’s 2024/2025 maize harvest, with an expected yield of only 2.3 million tonnes.
Ambassador Palmer emphasized that the U.S. Embassy’s intervention will provide critical support to vulnerable groups in the affected regions, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on corn and other grain crops.
Stakeholders Call for Government Action
The Chamber for Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has criticized the government for failing to develop a comprehensive risk mitigation plan to address the country’s recurring drought. The Chamber urged the government to revise its food security measures and adopt a sustainable approach, including:
- Expanding existing dams for dry-season farming
- Reducing interest rates and debt repayment modes for farmers
- Developing a 10-year policy plan for agricultural development
