A sum of GH¢500 million from the Contingency Fund is yet to be approved as requested by the Finance ministry to tackle the drought in progression in the Northern regions of the country.
In a letter to the Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam explained that this request is essential to help secure the over GH¢8 billion needed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to combat the drought and its effects, such as food shortages and loss of farmers’ income.
The minister also stated that the government cannot depend on the 2024 budget to generate the GH¢8 billion required for the National Emergency Response Programme to tackle the impending food security crisis.
“Mr. Chairman, considering that we are eight (8) months into the implementation of the 2024 Budget and the proposed interventions are unplanned expenditure occasioned by a “force majeure”, Government cannot fund the request of GH¢8.36 billion solely from a reallocation of existing budget lines in the 2024 Budget.
“In light of the foregoing, we write to request approval from the Finance Committee for the withdrawal of GH¢500 million from the Contingency Fund, in accordance with Article 177 subsection 1 of the 1992 Constitution, Section 36 subsection 1 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) as well as Section 227 subsection 1 of the Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana,” part of the letter which is dated August 28, 2024, reads.
The minister added, “To complement this withdrawal, government is mobilising support from Development Partners as well as realigning approved fiscal operations in the 2024 Budget. Mr. Chairman, given the assessed impact of the impending food security crisis in five (5) Northern Regions and three (3) Transitional Zones affecting over 900,000 farmers and heightening the risk of extremism, your urgent approval would enable Government to implement the critical measures required to address the situation.”
Read the full letter below:
