The Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, has made a formal request to Parliament’s Finance Committee to release GH₵500 million from the Contingency Fund.
This funding is intended to address the growing threat of food insecurity caused by the drought in Northern Ghana.
The request comes after the government announced an GH₵8 billion relief package to support farmers affected by the drought.
Dr. Amin Adam explained that the government cannot fund the relief package solely from the 2024 Budget due to the unexpected nature of the drought.
He cited the need for unplanned expenditure to address the “force majeure” situation.
The Finance Minister requested approval for the withdrawal of GH₵500 million from the Contingency Fund, in accordance with the Constitution and relevant laws.
The government is also seeking support from Development Partners and realigning approved fiscal operations in the 2024 Budget.
A ban on grain exports has already been announced to address the severe drought affecting Northern Ghana.
The region has been without rain for over two months, stunting crop growth and threatening the livelihood of thousands of farmers.
The government’s efforts aim to mitigate the effects of the drought and ensure food security in the affected regions.
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