Japan Donates Food Aid To Ghana

The Government of Japan yesterday donated 650 million yen approximately GHc 5.9million to the people of Ghana in support of the recent flooding in the western and northern part of the country.

This was in response to a request made by the Government of Ghana to the Japanese government to come to the aid of the flood victims to avert any food shortage this year.

The grant which is in the form of rice would be procured from agreed countries to supplement the national produce for 2008. Japan was one of the countries that provided emergency relief items to meet short-term needs of the people affected in the area.

Speaking at the Signing and Exchange of Notes Ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, in Accra, the Chief Director of that ministry, Ambassador Ellen Serwaa Nee-Whang pointed out that Japan has been supporting Ghana since, 'we have received food aid in the form of rice from Japan since 1973', she added.

She said the medium of providing assistance was changed in 2001 in order to support to the rice industry with the initiation of two projects, an irrigation project with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for rice cultivation and a Rice Production and Marketing Project with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, PSD and PSI to encourage local rice production. 

The Chief Director said the proceeds from the sale of the rice would be deposited in a designated account and utilised in the agricultural sector or in agricultural related activities.

She thanked the Japanese government and gave an assurance that the food aid would go to the intended beneficiaries.

The Charge d'Affaires of the Japanese Embassy, HE Yutaka Nakamura observed that agriculture is the main industrial activity in the northern part of the country and this should play a leading role towards vibrant Africa. 'Japan has been assisting Ghana with agriculture through promotion of domestic rice as well as provision of agricultural machineries', he informed.

He said Japan's Food Aid is a multi-purpose aid programme, under which the Government of Ghana would import food such as rice and sell it to the local markets.

He observed that Japan is looking forward to welcoming Ghana's President J.A. Kufuor to the 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IV) in Yokohama. It is under the theme 'Towards a Vibrant Africa: A Continent of Hope and Opportunity'.