GHANA PROMISES SUPPORT FOR USG GLOBAL HUNGER AND FOOD

UNCLAS ACCRA 001162

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/MTAA/ABT: ANN RYAN, MARISSA PLOWDEN; IO: ROBERT
HAGEN, JOHN TUMINARO; AF: MARY JOHNSON
PASS TO MCC FOR KRISTEN PENN; PASS TO USDA FOR RAJIV SHAH


E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: ECON EAGR EAID KMCA GH
SUBJECT: GHANA PROMISES SUPPORT FOR USG GLOBAL HUNGER AND FOOD
SECURITY INITIATIVE

REF: A) SECSTATE 107298 B) ACCRA 00592


1. SUMMARY: On October 30, Econoff, USAID and MCC representatives
delivered REFTEL A demarche to Government of Ghana (GOG) Ministry of
Food and Agriculture (MOFA) officials, including the Deputy Minister
for Fisheries, and the Chief Technical Advisor to the Minister of
Food and Agriculture. GOG officials were positive toward the USG
initiative and promised to support USG leadership on food security
at the November 16-18 World Food Summit in Rome, including the
articulation of the G8 L'Aquila Summit five points in the conference
declaration. Years of sustained engagement with USAID and MCC on
agricultural sector development has placed Ghana well along the path
to accomplishing the Secretary of State's new initiative to address
global hunger and food security. END SUMMARY.


2. In advance of the demarche delivery, USAID provided a package of
documents noted in REFTEL A (including a copy of the "Partnering for
Food Security: Moving Forward" document) to USAID's embedded Chief
Technical Advisor in MOFA, Dr. Sam Dapaah. A prior MOFA Chief
Director, Dr. Dapaah has proven to be a critical asset for USAID and
MCC in engaging the GOG.


3. During the demarche, the GOG officials expressed gratitude for
USG support on agricultural sector programs through USAID, MCC and
the Peace Corps. Citing the history of U.S.-Ghanaian partnership on
agriculture sector development since the time of President Kennedy,
the Deputy Minister promised Ghana's support for USG leadership on
food security during the Rome Summit. They noted that if they had
any questions following their review of the USG food security
strategy documents provided, they would raise the questions with USG
representatives privately, and not in an open forum.

SIGNIFICANT USG SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURE IN GHANA
-------------- ---

4. USAID and MCC have provided significant funding for development
of Ghana's agriculture sector. Program goals include farmer
training, increased access to credit, improved infrastructure,
increased productivity, greater market access and competitiveness,
and enhanced capacity and institution building. Prior to the FY
2009 Food Security Supplement, received in December 2008, USAID's
agriculture support for Ghana was approximately USD 8 million per
year. Under the 2009 Global Food Security Response Program (GFSR),
to be implemented by USAID in FY 2010, the funding for agricultural
programs in Ghana increased by USD 25 million -- for a total of USD
33 million projected for agriculture sector programs in FY 2010.
MCC granted its local implementing agency (MiDA) USD 227 million in
support of agriculture and infrastructure projects for a 5-year
period (2007-2012).


5. Ongoing and prospective USG agriculture-focused activities in
Ghana fully support the Secretary's vision (REFTEL A),which is also
consistent with the objectives of Comprehensive Africa Agriculture
Development Programme (CAADP) and the GOG's corresponding
agriculture strategy: Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy
(FASDEP). (To be reported SEPTEL.)

COMMENT
--------------

6. Politically, the new emphasis by the USG (and other development
partners) on food security corresponds with a domestic
prioritization of agriculture sector development (REFTEL B).
Ghana's NDC government was elected on a platform of renewed emphasis
on rural growth through agriculture sector investment. Thus, USG
and multilateral efforts in support of agriculture sector
development will be met with enthusiasm from Ghana's current
political leadership. The medium term challenge will be
transforming the political leadership's positive rhetoric into
increased ground-level administrative performance.

TEITELBAUM