Franklin Cudjoe, Founding President of IMANI Africa, has emphasized the need for Ghana to reduce its dependence on rainfall for agriculture, citing the ongoing drought in Northern Ghana as a stark reminder of the risks associated with overreliance on natural weather patterns.
In a Facebook post, Cudjoe highlighted the looming food shortages due to insufficient rainfall and commended the efforts of the Agriculture, Finance, and Defence Ministers to manage the crisis.
However, he stressed the importance of developing alternative irrigation solutions and improving storage facilities to mitigate the impact of future droughts.
“The economy and its inhabitants are too vulnerable to endure another avoidable phenomenon,” Cudjoe wrote.
He also questioned the effectiveness of the One Village One Dam initiative, launched under the Akufo-Addo administration, as a critical strategy to enhance irrigation.
“Dr. Bawumia, you championed the One Village One Dam initiative as a significant solution for irrigation.
Given the significant investment, what is the current status of these dams? When can we expect them to assist in addressing these challenges?” Cudjoe asked.
In response, the government has outlined its measures to safeguard food security. Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adams announced that the government aims to raise $500 million (GH₵8 billion) through a combination of the Contingency Fund, budget realignment, and development partner funding.
“Hunger affects everyone regardless of political affiliation,” Adams stated.
“We have implemented measures to ensure equitable distribution of resources to farmers in need.”
Adams acknowledged that while the response may not fully resolve the crisis, it will help stabilize the situation.
“Our response aims to mitigate the problem and stabilize conditions until we can overcome the crisis,” he added.
