The US Ambaasador to the United Nations, Amb. Linda Thomas-Grenfield, has said Ghana needs to partner African diaspora to help make progress in Ghana becoming the breadbasket on the African continent.
She made these comments during a brief event held at the Cedi Conference Centre at the University of Ghana on the 5th of August under the theme ‘A Vision for Peace and Progress on Food Security in Africa’
She stated that to give Ghana’s continous progress in food production and supply chain a boost, “It will mean calling on the large and prosperous Africa diaspora to help make progress. Efforts like the 2019 Year of Return are a great way to unlock the potential of the diaspora, which has billions of dollars and vast tropes of priceless experience to offer,” share stated.
Buttressing the need for partnership Amb Linda Thomas-Greenfield said: “now is the moment to forge a partnership between civil society and the private sector, to galvanise the diaspora, to take advantage of new technologies and better techniques, to build the food systems and structure of the future.”
Amb. Thomas-Greenfield also shared the United States’ commitment to partnering governments, NGOs and agribusinesses in Ghan and across Africa to take on the complex challenges that cause food insecurity within the sub region.
“For our part, the United States is committed to this work. It is the foundation of Feed the Future, our global hunger and food security initiative, which President Biden dramatically expanded this summer to include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia-joining twelve other target countries, including Ghana,” she said.
She used the occasion to announce nearly 150 million dollars in new, additional humanitarian funding and developmental assistance, which she says is pending Congressional approval, for Africa.
“But more funding is needed is needed- to address food security, and to address crises that compound food security, like refugees and internally displaced people who are forced from their homes and put a strain on food system wherever they find shelter. That’s why, today, I’m proud to announce nearly 150 million dollars in new, additional funding and development assistance for Africa. That includes the 20 million I announced yesterday in Uganda, which will go toward expanding investments in fertiliser, grains, and other crops- with the goal of increasing resilience to future stocks in Uganda, she said.
The event was attended by the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer, Kwame Pianim renowned Ghanaian Economist, Franklin Cudjoe Chief Executive Officer of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Alumni of Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), students, civil society groups, the media and other stakeholders.
By: Bridget Mensah
