Upper East is the most food insecure region in Ghana

18-10-2011            

Narration: About 1.2 million people representing 5 percent of Ghana’s population are food insecure with Upper East Region identified as the most food insecure region, according to World Food Programme survey conducted in 2009. The survey further reveal that 34 percent of the population in Upper West and 10 percent of people in Northern Region, amounting to approximately 453,000 people faces severe food crisis and experience the longest food shortage period of up to 6 months after harvesting. This came to light at a joint celebration of World Rural Women’s Day, World Food Day and Global call of action against poverty at Bawku in the Upper East Region. The Executive Director of Trade AID Integrated, Nicholas Apokerah who made the revelation said poverty account for the major cause of food insecurity of which women are the hardest hit due to their vulnerability.  He said success to feed increasing number of people will hinge on increased recognition and support for women’s vital role both in increasing food production and in stabilizing population growth. Isaac Asare has more for Radio Ghana.

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The Upper East Region remains one of the poorest regions in Ghana. An estimated 70 percent of the entire populace lives in abject poverty as compared to other regions of Ghana. Though agriculture is the main driving force of the people in the region, available statistics have it that 15 percent of the population is food insecure.  A thorough assessment by the 2007 UNDP Human Development report outlines reasons accounting for the high poverty level in the region. These include single cropping season, environmental degradation, inadequate economic and employment opportunities, and high population as against resources, harsh climatic conditions as well as poorly developed informal sector among other challenges. This year’s joint event organized by Action AID Ghana with other supporting local NGOs including the Women and Orphans Ministry (MOM) was therefore held to engage stakeholders in addressing issues of food insecurity in the region and assess its impact on the wellbeing of affected individuals.  Touching on the topic: ‘”Food Crisis-From Crisis to Stability, the Executive Director of TradeAID Integrated, Nicholas Apokerah said issue of food security affects the majority of people in Upper East Region, especially women and yet women are disadvantaged in all aspects of life, thus making them poor and vulnerable.  He said though women plays a vital role in agricultural production access to resources continue to be a big challenge thereby limiting their productivity. Though various studies suggest that land plays central role in positioning and shaping the livelihoods of various interest groups, women in the region are denied access to land inheritance but can only access family land for use. This, he said has implication for investment, hence the need to give women the right to owe land for farming. According to him, there cannot be any meaningful development in the country without active participation of women in the economic process. On the way forward in addressing the challenges of agriculture, Mr. Apokerah emphasized the need to assist women with financial aid, logistics and farm inputs, as well as assurance as ready market for their produce.  This, he maintained, would ensure the production of more food to curb hunger and poverty. Relatively, there should be a well structured national effort to educate farmers on the handling of agro chemicals and the need to prioritize irrigated agriculture to respond to climate change. The Acting Programmes Officer of Action AID, Mr. Gregory Dery said the joint annual event is being celebrated to put to the fore issue of women empowerment, food security, hunger, and poverty for redress by duty bearers and world leaders to enable them deliver on their MDGs targets and give clear headlines for improving the lives of the world’s poorest people in 2015. 

He said issue of rural women empowerment and food security should be a major priority concerns to all, hence the need to support initiatives that are directed to addressing those concerns. The Bawku Municipal Chief Executive, Musa Abdullai on his part encouraged NGOs and CSOs to consider timing when embarking on advocacy programmes. He said advocacy issues should be put before the assembly for consideration and not when the assembly had completed its budget. Mr Abdullai renewed government’s commitment in ensuring that rural farmers produce enough to feed their family and the country at large.

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