Help us improve our food systems – NAFCO appeals to WFP

The National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) is seeking an intervention by the United Nations food agency, the World Food Programme (WFP), to enhance food systems.

Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Osmond Amuah, believes that infrastructural overhaul, the infusion of innovation, technology and best practices will contribute towards resilient systems to advance food security in Ghana.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that some two million people are the risk of facing food insecurity. 

Interacting with a visiting WFP technical team in Accra, Mr Osmond hinted at a move by government to beef up the national food stock by making available some GH¢100 million for grain purchases as it takes steps to avert the recurrence of the drought that hit part of northern Ghana last year.

“That drought was catastrophic…it worsened the level of poverty. We are doing everything possible to ensure the level of impact is minimised should it even occur again”, he said.

The four-member team from the WFP Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal, was led by Dr. Ones Karuho, Head of Resilience and Food Systems and included Programme Policy  Officer, Albert Akafari; Agribusiness Consultant, Foster Gomashie; and Diarde Ba, Food Systems Officer.

The team was in Ghana to hold in-country consultations with stakeholders on the Country Strategic Plan and WFP Food Security Strategy currently being developed.

NAFCO and WFP have been working together under the South-South Cooperation Triangle as well as the Rice Fortification initiative under the Rockefeller Project.

Chief Executive Officer of NAFCO, George Abradu-Otoo, said a major focus of the company’s operation has been to work in alignment with the government’s Feed Ghana programme to address food inflation issues and improve the lives of the vulnerable.

He called for stronger ties among partners towards the attainment of SDG goals relating to food security and health.

The WFP Regional Head of Resilience and Food Systems, Dr. Ones Karuho, pledged WFP’s readiness to partner with NAFCO to strengthen key areas such as Warehouse Management, food safety and procurement processes.

“We are desirous of working with NAFCO on many important strategic areas, to better the lives of farmers, young people and the vulnerable”.

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