A mission team from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has paid a curtesy call on Hon. Mavis Hawa Koomson, Caretaker Minister for Food and Agriculture. The team led by Ms. Clemencia Cosentino, Director, Office of Evaluation (OED) supported by Mr. Olivier Cossée, Senior Evaluation Officer (OEDD) and Ms. Amélie Solal-Celigny, Evaluation Officer (OEDD) informed the Hon. Minister of their presence in the country to conduct an independent evaluation of various intervention made by FAO in Ghana’s Agriculture Sector. Ms. Clemencia Cosentino said it is the first time this evaluation is  being carried the rational is to  inform and contribute to the next framework to develop FAO intervention for the country.

In her welcome remarks, Mavis Hawa Koomson acknowledged that, FAO has been a key partner in the development of Ghana’s agriculture over the years. She recognised the following areas of cooperation and collaboration: Technical Cooperation, African Continental Free Trade Area, Promotion of Organic Fertilizer, One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative, National E-Agric Platform/ Application, and others.

 In the Hon. Minister’s submissions, she called for Ownership of Interventions at Country Level.  “FAO funded projects in Ghana are usually micromanaged by the organisation. This affects effective management and delivery of such initiatives. We recommend that FAO gives country institutions the freehand to implement such initiatives for better ownership and needed sustainability”. She said.

The tram proceeded to meet  with the Technical Directors of the Minister for a broader engagement.