Remarks by Ambassador Donald Teitelbaum at the Launch of New Alliance Cooperation Framework in Ghana

Honorable Event Chairman, Odeneho Gyapong Ababio II; Honorable Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Nii Amasa Namoale; Director General, Private Enterprise Foundation of Ghana, Nana Osei-Bonsu; Fellow Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives of the Private Sector, Development Partners, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am pleased to join the Government of Ghana, representatives of other members of the Group of Eight—the G8—as well as private sector and development partners in launching the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. 

This is a day long anticipated. 

The leaders of the G8 have been working together with African heads of state and other leaders on this initiative for several years. African leaders have recognized the need for collective action to improve agricultural development and, ultimately, reduce poverty and hunger.  

The New Alliance marks the next phase in concerted international action to do so.  The New Alliance is a commitment by G8 nations, the African Union, African partner countries, and by private sector partners to lift 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years through inclusive and sustained agricultural growth.  

In Ghana, this will mean:

• That rural households will increase their incomes from farming and agro-business.
• That businesses and farmer-based organizations will improve their ability to purchase inputs to increase crop yields or to obtain food storage.
• That money transfer agents will supply funds to community-based organizations, making timely payment possible for produce and agricultural inputs, even in remote areas.
• And, that children will have access to more nutritious foods, improving their health and helping them to achieve their dreams.