CIDA Invests In Food Security

The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), has over the last six years invested over 67 million Canadian dollars in a number of interventions aimed at enhancing decentralisation, food security and the environment in the three northern regions of the country. The interventions include: the District Wide Assistance Programme (DWAP), the Ghana Environment Management Project (GEMP), Food Security and Environment Facility (FSEF) and Community Initiative for Food Security (CIFS). Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), announced this at the CIFS closure meeting in Tamale in the Northern Region yesterday. He said CIDA has invested over 12 million Canadian dollars into the CIFS project alone, which ws aimed at improving household food security in 250 communities across 12 districts of the eastern corridor in the region by supporting community-based and district wide food security initiatives (FSIS). The initiatives, the Minister said, were incorporated into existing local government planning and implementation processes to strengthen and institutionalise existing sub-district, district and regional mechanisms that supported community-driven rural development. The CIFS project has been implemented over a six-year period from 2004-2010 with a one year extension in 2011. Beneficiary districts under the project include: East Gonja, East Mamprusi, Bunkprugu/Yunyoo, Karaga, Gushegu, Saboba, Chereponi, Yendi, Zabzugu/Tatale, Nanumba North and Nanumba south. Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo said the CIFS have made significant contributions to the beneficiary communities and the district as far as food security and decentralisation were concerned, noting that the decentralisation drive of the Government have been given real meaning by the Project in a number of ways. He said for example sub-district structures, especially area councils have been trained in the preparation of Community Action Plans (CAPs), which have formed the basis for the formulation of district medium term plans. He said during the CIFS implementation period spanning between 2004 and 2009, 250 communities were engaged in 10 baseline studies; 250 community action plans were completed in 12 districts and 74 area level plans completed in the 12 districts. “This is a clear case of empowering the local people to lead in the development processes of their communities”, the Minister said. Nana Oduro Kwarteng, Chief Director of the MLGRD, cautioned district assemblies against the tendency of undertaking projects in their areas without consulting the people about their pressing needs.

Source: GNA