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FAO says Ghana's food security
situation is impressive
Accra, Oct. 16, Ghanadot/GNA- Mr. Edouard Tapsoba, Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO) Representative in Ghana on
Tuesday commended the government for making "impressive
progress" towards achieving food security for Ghanaians.
Mr Tapsoba said an FAO study entitled "The State of Food
Insecurity in the World 2006", showed that in Ghana, the
number of undernourished people declined by 59 percent from
5.8 million to 2.4 million over a 10-year period between
1993- 1995 and 2001 and 2003 and at the same time the
prevalence of under nourishment dropped from 37 percent to
12 percent.
"We have been encouraged in recent years not only because of
the remarkable progress made by Ghana in its fight against
hunger and malnutrition, but also by the deliberate decision
by government to formulate a Food and Agriculture Sector
Policy", he said at this year's World Food Day.
The Day, which is observed on October 16 every year, focuses
attention on agriculture and food production to stimulate
national, bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental
efforts to heighten awareness of defeating hunger hunger in
the world.
This year, "The Right to Food - Make it Happen", was chosen
as the theme for the Day, to reflect the international
community's growing awareness of the crucial role of human
rights in eradicating hunger and poverty.
Mr Tapsoda observed however that even though the statistics
were encouraging, it showed that there was still "room for
improvement" since there were some 41 percent of the
population that were still undernourished.
"Moreover, effort should be made on the nutrition aspect,
particularly for children. But we are optimistic as the
ambitious School Feeding Programme that government has
launched recently is very promising," Tapsoba said.
Tapsoba noted that while the FAO was confident that Ghana
was making progress to achieve one component of the
Millennium Development Goals- the elimination of hunger by
2015- the adverse effects of disasters, such as droughts and
floods, which hit the northern parts of Ghana this year, put
a sizable number of people on a transitory food insecurity
situation.
He held that giving top priority to food and agriculture, as
a means of eradicating poverty and hunger in the country,
made economic sense, since the sector contributed about 40
percent of the Gross Domestic Products.
The FAO Representative noted that since most of the poor
lived in rural areas and derived their livelihoods from the
sector, priority should be given to the sector to reduce
poverty nationwide.
"Thus, adequate resources should be allocated for
investments in productive activities, basic infrastructure
and supporting services", he added.
Mr Tapsoba said that achieving universal food security for
all Ghanaians was a national challenge and should therefore
be made a national affair.
He called on all, including all ministries, the private
sector, civil society organizations to be part of the
preparation and implementation of a food security action
plan, adding that the FAO would endeavour to do its part in
Ghana's efforts to reduce poverty, eradicate hunger and
realize global food security.
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Ms Anna Nyamekye
noted that the right to food as a basic necessity could only
be meaningful if people live up to their civil and moral
responsibilities.
"The right to food therefore can only be meaningful if we
the people will live up to their civil and moral
responsibilities, by avoiding conflicts, making our roads
and homes safe, working hard and recognizing the right of
your fellow human being to live and enjoy life".
Mrs Nyamekye noted that while the Constitution guaranteed
the right to basic necessities of life, "We cannot survive
if negative activities like armed robbery, theft,
corruption, religious and ethnic conflicts take the better
part of us".
"We shall not be able to work and produce enough to ensure
our food security if we do not have the peace needed", she
said.
She said while every individual had the right to food, "we
must also help to make it happen", adding, "The right to
food does not mean we should sit and demand it as a right".
"We have to work for it, except when we are constrained by
situations like illness, age, handicap, famine or disasters
as happened in the North.
"Under such conditions, it is justified for the state to
come in and assist", she said.
Ms Nyamekye said the Ministry had made it its objective to
ensure universal food security, and improve growth in
agricultural incomes by adopting policies that would enhance
and facilitate increased productivity.
She said it was the Ministry's goal to improve productivity
in agriculture and attain an annual growth rate of about six
percent to conform to the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy
by 2015.
Mrs. Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries on her part said
agriculture and fisheries production and productivity held
the key to growth and poverty reduction strategies of
nations.
She thus called on Ghanaians to take advantage of the good
soil, favourable rains and the numerous water bodies to
increase fish and food production to make the "Right to
food" happen to rally the energies of the people for
productive ventures.
Sheik I. C. Quaye, Greater Regional Chairman chaired the
function which had a lively patronage from members of Amen
Amen Church, students, Ministers of State, members of the
Diplomatic Corps and the Clergy,
GNA
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