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1.2 million Ghanaians are
vulnerable to food insecurity
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, Aug 23, Ghanadot - A total of 1.2 million Ghanaians are currently exposed to
food insecurity while another two million remain vulnerable
to the problem.
The report released by the United Nations office in Ghana
last week indicated that the figure represented five per
cent of the population most of whom were concentrated in the
three northern regions, namely, the Northern, Upper East and
Upper West.
Mr. Kane Makane, United Nations Resident Coordinator
identified
"Events such as the severe floods and drought of 2007,
coupled with climate change, chieftaincy conflicts, rise in
global food and fuel prices have cumulatively heightened the
already existing vulnerabilities among some populace in
Ghana,".
Addressing a ceremony to mark the annual celebration of
United Nations' Fallen Humanitarian Workers on Wednesday, he
praised Ghana for the stability in the country and called
for an end to the chieftaincy disputes in the Northern
Region and other ethnic and political conflicts since they
could degenerate into violent national crisis.
"The cost of these conflicts, the proliferation of small
arms and the increasing likelihood of the exploitation of
such conflicts for banditry and undemocratic political ends
continue to give cause for grave concern," he added.
He said currently, close to 15,000 Liberian and Togolese
refugees were being hosted by Ghana and the figure was
likely to rise depending on the success of the general
election in neighbouring Cote D'Ivoire late this year and in
Togo early next year.
Mr. Makane mentioned the confirmation of Influenza HINI in
the country, high rate of malnutrition, cholera outbreak in
the Volta Region and Guinea Worm infestation in the three
northern regions as humanitarian issues, which are a source
of worry.
Mrs Diana Boakye, a Director, National Disaster Management
Organisation (NADMO) said between 1995 and 2007, the country
experienced three major floods displacing 1.7 million
persons in addition to 80 major epidemics from cholera and
Cerebro Spinal Meningitis, which claimed 1,400 lives and
affected 17,800 persons between 1997 and 2002.
According to the director, the floods that occurred between
June and August 2009 in the Southern and Middle belts
internally displaced more than 52,429 people and claimed 23
lives.
She called for more public education and awareness creation,
improvement on early warning systems in communities and
communication and co-ordination systems especially in
emergency responses, as some of the means by which the
country could fight disaster effectively.
In a message read on his behalf, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, UN
Secretary- General paid tribute to humanitarian workers who
lost their lives in the cause of duty and called for an end
to all attacks on such personnel.
"This is a day on which we pay tribute to the legions of
heroic humanitarian personnel. These men and women who come
from many backgrounds share the conviction that one person's
suffering is everyone's responsibility," he said.
Candles were lit in the memory of 18 humanitarian workers
from across the world who lost their lives in the course of
duty while a wreath was laid in memory of Sergio Vierra de
Mello, a great humanitarian and 22 others who were killed in
a Baghdad bombing during an attack on UN Headquarters in
2003.
August 19 each year is chosen by the UN General Assembly to
mark the day on which de Mello and 22 others were killed.
Ghanadot
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