Ghana Policy Matrix Presentation

Outline

1. Current policy institutions

2. Policy actions in the policy matrix

3. Progress made to date

4. Overarching constraints

5. Private sector challenges

6. Why these issues are important

7. Way Forward

Current Policy Institutional Framework MOFA – senior management, national directors meeting, MOFA annual performance

review (supported by Planning Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate)

The annual joint agriculture sector review (JSR)

Agriculture Sector Working Group (ASWG) with its Policy Sub-group

METASIP Steering Committee (supported by SAKSS)

National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) cross sector planning group NDPC coordination committee – Monitoring

Inter-ministerial coordinating committee been meeting)

Agriculture public private dialogue forum

Parliamentary select committee on agriculture and cocoa affairs annual review

Ghana Policy Actions in the Policy Matrix1. Seed regulations developed to implement the 2010 Plant and Fertilizer Act,

2. New agricultural input policy for fertilizer and certified seed use developed

3. Database of suitable land for investors established (1000 ha registered by 2013)

4. Pilot model lease agreements for 5,000 ha of land in database established.

5. Clear procedures to channel investor interest (including that related to value-added agricultural processing) to appropriate agencies completed.

6. New Ghana Agricultural Production Survey (GAPS) stood up

7. Private sector representatives of key grain value chains appointed to the MOFA Post Harvest Committee.

8. Scaling up nutrition enabling action

9. Comprehensive risk management assessments enabling action

Progress To Date

S/No

Policy Action Progress To Date

1 Seed regulations developed to implement the 2010 Plant and Fertilizer Act

Regulations have been developed to be relayed before parliament during the current session

2 New Ghana Agricultural Production Survey (GAPS) stood up

Pilot surveys have been completed - production statistics and reports published

3 Database of suitable land for investors established (1000 ha registered by 2013)

Ghana commercial agriculture project which was to lead the process only became effective on 8th April 2013 due to bureaucratic procedures

Overarching Constraints1. Weak inter-ministerial coordination and collaboration

2. Weak linkages between the formulation and implementation points (national – regional – district)

3. Weak policy – budget linkage

4. Weak policy reform – institutional structure linkage

5. Little rigorous policy analysis to back planning and decision making

6. Little impact analysis of policy implementation and reforms

7. Policy incoherence

8. Lack of political will

9. Inadequacy and late release of funds

10. Under utilized funding (for both public and private sector)

11. Poor information flow within the sector

12. Overambitious initiatives and projects

Private sector constraints

1. Limited voice of private sector in the policy process (capacity + resources + space)

2. Lack of transparency and accountability amongst Non-state actors

3. Vague policies (poor articulation) makes compliance difficult

4. Excessive bureaucracy in the public sector

5. Government knee jerk reactions to events (not informed by analysis) – gives private sector little time to contribute to decision making or problem solving

6. Unfair import competition

7. Lack of corporate internal structures

Why these issues are important Misallocation of funds to non-priority areas Inefficiency of government expenditure

( waste of resources and duplication of efforts)

Uncompetitiveness of the sector Low morale of public servants Lack of clear vision for the country

WAY FORWARD

Develop a much larger policy matrix covering all the policy actions being pursued under the various programmes e.g.a. Multi Donor Budgetary Support (MDBS)

b. CIDA agricultural sector budget support (SFASDEP)

c. Policy recommendations arising out the various joint agricultural sector reviews etc.

d.