AFSGGA Calls For Immediate Solution To Food Insecurity In Africa

The Alliance for Food Security and Good Governance (AFSGGA) is calling for necessary and immediate solution concerning an unprecedented food insecurity that has rendered a lot of people including women and children in the Africa continent including Ghana under pressure.

In a statement signed by the group’s President, Kwaku Amedume stated that food insecurity is still a major challenge in the continent, adding that, pragmatic steps to tackle the challenge to the best of its ability is required.

“There is the need for a concerted global and governance mechanism to address food insecurity issues especially in vulnerable economies like Africa. Food security as a public good is guaranteed when governance mechanisms create strong institutions, allocate resource, build capacity and implementation of effective policies for sustainable agriculture and productivity.

“We at Alliance for Food Security and Good Governance cease this opportunity to encourage all the political parties, flag-bearers, communicators across the political divide and independent presidential candidates to come forth with their policies on Food Security as this is a critical subject worthy of debate” part of the statement reads.

Read full statement below:

Alliance for Food Security and Good Governance (AFSGGA) welcomes the policy propositions of the flag-bearer of the largest opposition party (NDC), His Excellency John Dramani Mahama on FOOD SECURITY.

Food Security in Africa has come under extreme threat, due to some factors, some of which are natural while some are artificial depending on the circumstances and country involved. A foodsecure Ghana is one where all people have access to safe, nutritious and affordable food that provides the foundation for active and healthy lives.

Agriculture contributes to 54% of Ghana’s GDP, and accounts for over 40 % of export earnings while at the same time providing over 90% of food needs of the country. It directly employs 60% of the total labor force and serves as the main source of income for 90% of the population.

Many African countries including Ghana, rely on agriculture as the engine of economic growth and development. In Ghana for example, while the performance of agriculture to gross domestic product has dwindled in recent years, the sector still contributes immensely to the foreign exchange earnings, food security, employment and poverty reduction.

Transboundary challenges like climate change and Covid-19 pandemic, have worsened the plight of food insecurity across the globe with devastating impacts on developing, poor and

vulnerable countries. The pandemic has massively disrupted agricultural systems, with ripping effects such as rising food prices and household poverty.

There is the need for a concerted global and governance mechanism to address food insecurity issues especially in vulnerable economies like Africa. Food security as a public good is guaranteed when governance mechanisms create strong institutions, allocate resource, build capacity and implementation of effective policies for sustainable agriculture and productivity.

We at Alliance for Food Security and Good Governance cease this opportunity to encourage all the political parties, flag-bearers, communicators across the political divide and independent presidential candidates to come forth with their policies on Food Security as this is a critical subject worthy of debate.

Yours Truly, Kwaku Amedume (President)