Eight Ghanaians to attend G8 Summit in US

Eight Ghanaians would attend the forthcoming G8 Summit, scheduled in the US to participate in the 2012 Symposium on Global Agriculture and Food Security.

This is to promote cooperation between Ghana and the G8, towards promoting food security.

Mr Fenton Sands, Senior Food Security Officer of the USAID, told journalists in Accra on Tuesday that two other African countries that would have representatives at the symposium were Ethiopia and Tanzania.

He said Ghana was chosen because she had become a "welcome" country to investors all over the world, and being highly noted for her stability and dependability.

Madam Marjorie Valerie Abdin, First Vice President of Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters, a would be participant to the summit, said she hoped to return to Ghana with "solid contracts."

She said maize, soya and cassava which had been selected by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to be the focus of discussion during the summit, were mainly grown by rural farmers.

"The prospects of the rural farmer, especially his income, would definitely increase if we are able to boost production of these foodstuffs," she added.

Mr John Awuku Dziwornu, a farmer from Asutuare in the Dangme West District of the Greater Accra Region, another participant, said, "We need to know who is working elsewhere, in order to improve upon our own ways."

He said the area was made up of small scale farmers who produced staple foods such as maize.

Mr Dziwornu said it was encouraging that USAID was partnering government to improve on their performance.

He said while facilities such as warehousing had to be adopted to help boost the agricultural sector, it was important to broaden their network and partner people with new ideas and facilities that could improve upon the agricultural sector.

President John Evans Atta Mills is among four African leaders invited to the Summit. The rest are President Yayi Boni of Benin, who is also the Chairperson of the AU, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethoipia and President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.

The leaders would be part of a session to discuss the acceleration of food security in Africa.

The summit comes off on May 18-19.