By Samuel Ouma
The ongoing Grains from Ukraine Initiative will likely strengthen ties between Africa and Ukraine in the future, revealed Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, the Goodwill ambassador.
Speaking during an interview with Voice of America, Dr. Fomunyoh said five ships have delivered grains to Ethiopia and Somalia and one ship to Kenya. According to him, the 30,000 tonnes of grains of wheat to Kenya will be able to feed over 600,000 people for a continuous period of four months.
“It was a very moving experience for me, who went out to represent all the ambassadors, goodwill ambassadors to see on the faces of Kenyans, the smiles the joy, that they will be able to get relieved for a considerable number of months,” said Dr. Fomunyoh.
He said that Africa is becoming familiar with Ukraine through the initiative, noting that many African countries initially did not know the potential that Ukraine has despite being a tiny nation. Therefore, he urged African nations to use the programme to learn how the European nation has established itself as a credible supplier of wheat and other grains with its smaller pieces of land.
“Even if they start on the humanitarian front, they will be able to see for themselves, what it is that they could benefit in the areas of agricultural technology in the areas of food production, supply chains, and other benefits that could come in their bilateral relations down the road,” he reiterated.
On whether Russia is using access to food as a tool of war, Dr. Fomunyoh noted that he hopes President Vladimir Putin’s administration will provide more grains to cushion thousands of Africans against ravaging hunger.
At the same time, he rejected President Putin’s recent statement that if the agreement on exports across the Black Sea is not extended, Russia will solely provide free food to African nations. He argued that the declaration was misleading and urged leaders to separate humanitarian efforts from disputes over war and policy.
“If the Black Sea agreement allows for food to be provided to African countries, which by the way is coming to these African countries are not charged to them. There is no reason to block that process. And then afterwards, say, by the way, I will then give you free food,” lamented Dr. Fomunyoh.
Dr. Fomunyoh remarked that many African countries have remained neutral in the Russia-Ukraine crisis because they have numerous interests of their own and do not want to get drawn into global wars.
He hopes that the fight will stop soon for the people of Ukraine so that they may reclaim a sense of normalcy in their life, as well as for the rest of the globe, which has been badly impacted as a result of the war.
Full interview here
