Thomas-Greenfield to government: Develop home-grown solution to curb effect of food crisis

The US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield has advised the government of Ghana to develop stronger home-grown policies to effectively curb the impact of the global food crisis on the country.

Thomas-Greenfield’s advice comes at a time when the United Nations has declared the current hikes in food prices and food shortages across the world as an emergency.

“Africa’s potential is unlimited and therefore, there is no reason for Africa to be dependent on other countries when your land resources are in abundant”, she said.

Thomas-Greenfield added that the current economic situation presents an opportunity for the government to start maximising those resources to create opportunities in the agribusiness sector.

“It will require governments to make decisive efforts to put resources and policies in place that will encourage farmers to do the necessary things that will feed the future of this continent,” ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said.

In Ghana, food prices continue to surge, pushing inflation to an all-time high of 29.8%.

Speaking to the media in Accra, Thomas-Greenfield also encouraged the government to focus more on capacity building within the agribusiness sector and also support farmers with essential services.

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield said policies that will promote and support the private sector and particularly farmers to engage in agriculture should be of a priority to the government.

“It requires an enabling environment and a legislation that will provide more resources and policies that will encourage farmers to commit to their work.”

As part of her visit to Ghana, Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield addressed over 500 students at the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra, where she spoke on the theme, “A Vision for Peace and Progress on Food Security in Africa”.

She bemoaned how one out of every five people are undernourished and lack three meals per day and also, how in Ghana, many who fish for a living are seeing smaller catches due to a rise in water temperatures. She touched on other issues including climate change and the global energy crises.

Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield was nominated by President Biden to be the representative of the United States of America to the United Nations as well as the representative of the United States of America in the Security Council of the United Nations on 20 January 2021.

She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on 23 February 2021 and sworn in on 24 February 2021 by the vice-president of the United States of America.

Nana Oye Ankrah

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