FAO, Government of Ghana sign Country Programming Framework
As development of the agriculture sector a priority for the Government of Ghana
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the government of Ghana have signed a five year framework that sets out three government priority areas to guide the FAO’s partnership and support to Ghana.
The CPF was prepared following high-level and wide-ranging consultations; and agreement with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD),
The others are, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), Ministry of Land and Natural Resources (MLNR), Ministry of Planning, Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the UN Country Team (UNCT), non-state actors, and civil society.
The document was signed by the Assistant Director General and FAO Regional Representative for Africa Abebe Haile-Gabriel and Minister of State in Charge of Agriculture Dr. Jule Nura.
Speaking at the signing ceremony Abebe Haile-Gabriel stressed, “Investing in productive and sustainable agriculture is key for the success of agribusiness and agro-industrialization strategy”.
“This can go a long way in creating decent work and job opportunities for the youth and women thus contributing to poverty reduction and improving rural livelihoods,” he added.
The Minister of State on his pat, praised FAO’s leadership and support in the food and agriculture sector in Ghana.
He affirmed projects tabled in the CPF fully aligns with government's own priority and expressed the hope for more cooperation for the realization of the CPF.
Ghana’s priority areas
The Country Programming Framework priority areas brings together innovative international best practices and global standards with national and regional expertise during its 5 year implementation period.
The 2018-2022 CPF priorities are derived from the government’s medium-term development policy framework (2018 – 2021), An Agenda for Jobs: Creating Prosperity and Equal Opportunity for All, and relevant sector strategies, and it also aligns to the United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership UNSDP, 2018 – 2022.
Ghana’s priority areas include: Sustainable Agriculture drives Agro-Industrialization and Economic Growth, which aims at emphasizing the significance of agriculture for economic growth and transformation. Sustainable Natural Resource Management for a Safe, Secure and Productive Environment linking agriculture performance with sustainable management of natural resource base and Resilient Livelihoods for Reduced Vulnerability and Rural Poverty aims at addressing the challenges of vulnerability and social exclusion through building resilience of livelihoods.
Alignment with the SDGs
The global food and agriculture body says it would promote greater policy coherence between social protection, food systems, sustainable agriculture and rural development policies.
The CPF also recognizes and aligns with the Government’s prioritization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of which SDGs 1, 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14 and 15 provide the appropriate context for the achievement of the ultimate goals of the CPESDEP for the agricultural sector.
The CPF is equally informed by the Malabo Declaration and the African Union Agenda 2063 for which the National Agricultural Investment Plan for Ghana is aligned. Additionally, the CPF is guided by the FAO Strategic Framework and aligned with the Strategic Programmes as well as Regional Initiatives for Africa namely; Africa’s commitment to end hunger by 2025; Sustainable production, intensification and value chain development in Africa; and building resilience in Africa’s dry lands.