Background

Through the Public Law 480, Title II food aid program, USAID provides food aid to address food insecurity issues in Ghana, particularly in the northern regions. About 80 percent of the food, is sold and the rest distributed for direct feeding to farmers, schools and to people living with HIV/AIDS, malnourished children, and other vulnerable groups. Funds generated from the sale of food (monetization proceeds) are used to support sustainable development projects, such as training in improved methods of agriculture, micro-credit to farmers to increase rural income, and digging wells. The food security program is cross-cutting, supporting the promotion of health, private sector competitiveness, trade, agriculture and education.

Presently, USAID/Washington Food-for-Peace is prioritizing support to countries facing emergency needs worldwide necessitating the phase-out of non-emergency food security development programs, such as the one in Ghana. USAID/Ghana has started phasing-out its food aid program as of October 2006 to be completed by 2009.

USAID/Ghana Food for Peace Activities include:

Increasing agricultural production and income for poor farmers: USAID trains and supports approximately 19,000 rural smallholder farmers to use high yielding seeds to increase production. Additionally, USAID facilitates farmers' access to inputs and extension services, and supports them to build improved local silos and cribs to reduce post harvest loss of crops.

Increasing access of communities to safe water: USAID supports rural communities to dig wells and boreholes to increase access to safe water. Community members are trained to manage water and sanitation activities.

Improving and sustaining school attendance: Approximately 200,000 primary school children receive hot lunches in the three most food insecure regions of the country. The school feeding program improves and sustains school enrollment and attendance. Girls are provided take-home food rations every month to encourage their families to continue sending them to school.

Improving access to care and support for the highly vulnerable: USAID provides food to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs), AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children, helping them to lead their lives with dignity. In addition, USAID organizes associations of PLWHAs, and orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) groups to provide them basic care and psychosocial and/or educational support.

Highlights of USAID/Ghana Food for Peace Program success through 2005

• Increased Agricultural Production: USAID-assisted farmers have increased crop yields, reduced post harvest losses, and improved marketing linkages of mangoes and citrus for the export market. Approximately 15,695 rural farmers were introduced to high yielding seeds, visited demonstration farms, and had access to credit and agriculture extension services. In addition, the farmers have constructed 1,214 household silos for maize and rice storage, reducing post harvest losses from 30 percent to 5 percent in target communities.
  
  
• Improved Access to Safe Water: The Food-for-Peace program provided 75 wells and boreholes in 70 rural communities, primarily to reduce water-borne infections such as guinea worm. The water sources benefited over 80,000 people across the country. USAID supported the construction of 429 two-seater household pit latrines to improve sanitation. Eighty-three water and sanitation committees were trained to maintain the wells and to practice overall good sanitation.
  
  
• Improved Child Survival: Behavior change communication workshops were organized for approximately 900 community health volunteers and focal persons. Eighty-eight percent of infants in program areas are exclusively breastfed.
  
  
• Expanded Care and Support for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) and Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVCs): A total of 281 people were trained to provide care and support to PLWHAs and OVCs, resulting in over 680 PLWHAs and OVCs receiving psychosocial counseling. USAID also provided 14,060 others with food rations to improve their nutritional status.