US supports Ghana with $6.5 million food aid

The Government of Ghana yesterday took delivery of 30,450 metric tons of wheat valued at 6.5 million dollars at the Tema Port under the United States Government's Food for Peace program.

The food shipment, which is part of a 21 million-dollar US Food Aid to Ghana for 2004/2005 fiscal year, would be sold to local flour mills and the proceeds used to improve food security, especially in the three northern regions.

Three non-governmental organisations that are the main beneficiaries of the programme are the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and Opportunity Industrialization Centres International (OICI).

Speaking at the off-loading ceremony, Mr Jerry Lanier, Deputy Chief of Mission, said the sale of the flour in local currency would help the country to save its scarce foreign exchange earnings that were required to import the wheat.

He said the three beneficiary NGOs would also use the money generated to provide micro-credit to farmers, improve access to clean drinking water, enhance child health and increase enrolment and attendance in primary schools.

Mr Lanier further noted that the proceeds would be used to support vulnerable group in Ghana including orphans, the elderly, the physically and mentally challenged as well as people living with HIV/AIDS.

Receiving the shipment on behalf of government, Mr Griffiths Danso Apeatu, Director of External Affairs and Resource Monetization, Ministry of Finance, expressed gratitude of the government to the US for its continuous support for Ghana's development effort.