General News of Tuesday, 15 July 2003

Source: GNA

FAO supports returnees

Accra, July 15, GNA - The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has allocated 300,000 dollars to support government's emergency supply of agriculture input for Ghanaian returnees engaged in agricultural activities.

A statement signed by Nana Ohene Ntow, Government Spokesman, Finance and Economy, in Accra on Tuesday said a technical co-operation agreement signed recently between Ghana and the FAO covered emergency supply of agriculture input to Ghanaian returnees, host families, refugees and internally displaced persons in Northern, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Regions.

Part of the amount would be utilized in covering the cost of the services of technical and extension officers, while the bulk of the money would be spent on supplies to the beneficiaries as well as the operating cost of the agriculture ventures.

The FAO indicated the urgency it attached to the project and had, therefore, given directives for immediate disbursement of the funds, with the hope that it would contribute towards restoring the agricultural production of beneficiaries and communities, the statement said.