The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), has initiated a project to systematically track and analyze public spending in Ghana’s agricultural sector. This initiative aims to ensure that investments are aligned with national development strategies, effectively addressing challenges related to nutrition and economic growth.
During the project’s inception meeting in Accra, Dr. Felix Addo-Yobo of the NDPC’s Development Policy Division emphasized agriculture’s pivotal role in Ghana’s economy, highlighting its contributions to sustenance, income, and employment for a significant portion of the population. He outlined the project’s objectives, which include creating a framework to help Ghana achieve broader national goals such as providing access to affordable, nutritious food, enhancing farmer productivity and resilience, generating off-farm employment opportunities, and managing public finances to maximize sustainable development.
Dr. Addo-Yobo called upon all stakeholders to actively engage in the project, viewing it as an opportunity to develop evidence-based policy reforms that can transform Ghana’s agricultural sector and improve the lives of many citizens. Representatives from the FAO, UHAS, and the Ministry of Finance attended the meeting, demonstrating broad institutional support for the initiative.
The collaborative team will focus on raising awareness about nutrition-sensitive public expenditures, establishing a robust budget analysis methodology, and fostering cooperation among various institutions involved in data collection and analysis.
by: Ghana Today
