The Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS) has projected that more Ghanaians are likely to fall into the “trap” of food insecurity if nothing is done to salvage the situation.
According to the Centre, government must implement actionable plans to reverse the tide of high food which compromises food security in Ghana.
Contained in a release by CCCFS, signed by the Deputy Director of Research, Food and Nutrition Security, Jacob Sarfo, it opined that the situation requires more than ever, the need for governments to protect the poor and vulnerable as they are at the receiving end of these crises.
“With ongoing global crises and what is being experienced on the local front, including rising inflation (currently at 37.2%), high food prices (according to the World Bank, Ghana recorded the highest increase in food prices (122%) in sub-Saharan Africa since the beginning of 2022) and droughts caused by climate change, CCCFS projects more Ghanaians to fall into the trap of being food insecure with the poor becoming poorer”.
CCCFS
On the occasion of ‘World Food Day’ under the theme: ‘Leave no one behind’ intended to promote awareness and action in support of those affected by hunger, CCCFS indicated that the Ghana Statistical Service 2022 report on Food Security and Vulnerability, shows a “sobering 3.6 million Ghanaians representing 11.6% of our population are food insecure”.
It noted that more worrying is that almost 80% of the food insecure population are in rural areas, the already poor and vulnerable.
Commenting on the devastation of farmlands posed by the impact of galamsey, CCCFS reiterated the extensive consequences of illegal mining on the country’s food security targets.
“With reports of farmers abandoning farming to be galamseyers and the impact of harmful chemicals from Galamsey in our soils and water bodies, our food production levels are projected to be low, unable to meet our food security needs and eventually exacerbate hunger and poverty.”
CCCFS
Recommendation to expedite food security
To remedy the situation, CCCFS proposed that government should, among other things, deepen its agricultural investment efforts, especially its Planting for Food and Jobs initiative. This, it explained, will help shore up food production and provide more employment opportunities.
The Centre further urged government to tackle the galamsey menace head-on by bringing to book everyone involved, including political apparatchiks.
“There must be a bold step to reverse the country’s food import dependence by moving away from being a net importer of food to avoid being heavily affected by exogenous shocks as witnessed currently. The government’s social intervention programs must be deepened and expanded to cover the many people, especially the poor and vulnerable, affected by the ongoing global and local crises.”
CCCFS
Elaborating on its role to ensure the successful implementation of its recommendation, CCCFS assured government of its commitment to work with the state and other agencies to ensure that no Ghanaian is left behind in the fight against hunger and poverty.
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