Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam has formally requested the release of GH₵500 million from the Contingency Fund to address the growing food insecurity threat posed by the ongoing drought in Northern Ghana.
This request comes shortly after the government announced an GH₵8 billion relief package aimed at assisting farmers severely impacted by the drought.
In a letter to Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr. Amin Adam explained that, with the 2024 Budget already eight months into implementation, the proposed interventions are unplanned expenditures triggered by a ‘force majeure.’ As a result, the government cannot fully fund the GH₵8.36 billion request solely through reallocating existing budget lines.
He further stated that, in light of this, the government is seeking approval from the Finance Committee for the withdrawal of GH₵500 million from the Contingency Fund, in accordance with Article 177(1) of the 1992 Constitution, Section 36(1) of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), and Section 227(1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament of Ghana.
To address the crisis, the government is also seeking support from Development Partners and realigning fiscal operations within the 2024 Budget.