By Iddi Yire, GNA
Elmina (C/R), Aug 29, GNA - Mr Eric Banye, the Programme Coordinator, Voice For Change Partnership (V4CP) Programme of the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, has urged the government and development partners to scale-up efforts to eradicate malnutrition in the country.
"Ghana is blessed with enough to eat, but we also need to ensure that what we produce, we are able to store and we are able to create access to many more communities to become a nutrition sensitive population," Mr Banye stated in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the side-line of a two-day workshop for media professionals at Elmina in the Central Region.
"We cannot grow this economy with a malnourished population and that is why we think that government must pay more attention in addressing the malnutrition situation in the country," he added.
The workshop was organised by the SNV, to help build the capacity of journalists in their reportage and also educate them on the V4CP project.
Mr Banye said they have been able to improve the collaboration among their partners in terms of the implementation of the key issues that the V4CP was working on.
He said they have been able to improve coordination among the key Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) over the past two years.
He said together with the relevant MDAs they were now also commitment to implement inclusive policies and programmes geared towards addressing malnutrition and post-harvest loses.
"What we are still struggling with is increasing budgetary commitment to address the issues, but of course it’s fair to know that, budgetary commitment cannot be done within this short period of time,” he said.
“We are very positive that as long as assemblies are beginning to plan for these issues they will prioritize nutrition and post-harvest loses as well in that development plans.”
Mr Banye said the V4CP programme, a five-year strategic project, which was now in its third year, supports civil society organisations (CSOs) to foster collaboration among relevant stakeholders, influence agenda-setting and hold the government and private sector accountable for their promises and actions.
He said the V4CP tackles four issues – food and nutrition security, resilience, renewable energy, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) – by also addressing gender balance and climate change mitigation.
The V4CP is an evidence-based advocacy programme being implemented by SNV, in partnership with the International Food and Policy Research Institute and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It seeks to strengthen CSOs in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Honduras and Indonesia in their role as advocates and lobbyists
The Dutch Ministry is funding the programme from 2016 to 2020, as part of its worldwide efforts to reinforce space for CSOs worldwide.
GNA
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