The United Nations in Ghana has launched a programme with the headline “Enhancing Food Security, Nutrition and Resilience of the most food insecure and vulnerable host communities and asylum seekers in the Upper East and Upper West Regions of Ghana.”
The programme is aimed at improving food, security and nutrition for pregnant and breastfeeding women, adolescent girls, and children under 24 months among asylum seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities.
This was contained in a press release issued by the organization in Ghana. The statement explained that despite comprising only 18.2 percent of Ghana’s population, the Upper East, Upper West, North East, and Savannah Regions host nearly half (42.3 percent) of the country’s projected food insecure population. “Difficulty in accessing safe and nutritious diets is exacerbating food insecurity and deepening the plight of vulnerable households with limited livelihood options in these regions”. The statement added.
According to the statement, ongoing conflict and insecurity in the Sahel, especially Burkina Faso, have led to increased displacement across the border into northern Ghana, further putting a strain on basic social and economic services in host communities, which are already grappling with limited resources and fragile food systems.
In a ceremony to launch the programme, Mr. Charles Abani, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana said that for security and safety reasons as well as to ensure peaceful co-existence, it is important that host communities in the Northern part of the country receive the necessary support to address food security challenges.
He explained that the organisation used available food security and nutrition data collected through various surveys and further conducted an initial rapid assessment of the situation of the asylum seekers and host communities in 83 communities across six border Districts to assess the needs of these beneficiaries and to determine an integrated response.
The Political Counsellor of the French Embassy in Ghana, Ms. Christine Battesti, also said that “Creating and improving a sustainable future for all by supporting and contributing to initiatives that enhance food security, improve nutrition, and build community resilience, is one of the priorities of France’s food security policy and Food Assistance Program.”
Apparently, the programme which was launched in Bolgatanga is aimed at reaching some 10,200 asylum seekers and host community members, and 20,000 people will benefit indirectly through interventions such as prevention and treatment of malnutrition, health system strengthening, and training in sustainable agriculture, as well as eco-friendly business ventures.
The program aligns with Ghana’s National Medium Term Development Plans, the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023-2025, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Global Compact on Refugees. It will be jointly implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ghana Refugee Board (GRB). The key implementing partners will be the Departments of Agriculture, Ghana Health Service (GHS), and NGOs.
Source: SonShinne News/ Jessica Johnson