Madam Angela Dannson, Deputy Director of Policy Planning and Monitoring at the Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has said poor coordination and project duplication is the concern at many decentralized agencies.

She said there is the continuous duplication or repetition of many projects by non-governmental organizations and some development partners saying “such practices wastes money and slows efficiency”.

Madam Dannson said this when addressing a day’s forum on Food Security and Environment Facility (FSEF), organized by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development in Tamale.

The FSEF is an eight year project begun in 2008, and it is being implemented in the three northern regions using science and innovation to improve food security through appropriate environmental management practices.

It is being implemented at the cost of CDN$14,300,000 with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

Madam Dannson suggested the need for effective collaboration to spread funds to other sectors of the economy adding that ‘MMDAs must harmonize projects and prioritize their spending to achieve results’.

Mr Akwasi Opong-Fosu, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, in a speech read on his behalf, said the project would help to achieve food security in the area.

He said by the end of the project, there would be an increased use of innovation and technologies in sustainable agriculture within the selected communities.

Madam Loree Semeluk, a representative of CIDA, said Canada shared a common goal with Ghana in strengthening the ability of farmers to produce enough food to feed themselves and have surplus income.

She promised the continuous support of Canada to Ghana’s development agenda and appealed to the authorities to consider gender equality in all aspect of development.