President Akufo-Addo has blamed the previous NDC government for the decline in the agricultural sector, adding that former President Mahama and his government did little to improve the agriculture sector.
According to him, the NDC failed to prioritize the agricultural sector, resulting to the low number of agric extension officers, low harvests and lack of financing for the sector.
President Akufo-Addo who was speaking at the 34th National Farmers’ Day celebration in Tamale, disclosed that his government is working to ensure that the agric sector is transformed.
President Akufo-Addo also described the decline in the agriculture sector under Mr. John Mahama as “erratic”.
He explained that his tenure in office unlike his predecessor, has prioritized the agriculture sector and made it resourceful again.
“Government is doing everything possible to put agriculture on the part of transformation. Since assuming office, we have left no one in doubt about the importance of agriculture.”
“It is important to put on record that Ghana’s agriculture was put in a state of decline when I became President. Prior to 2017, the performance of the sector has been erratic, recording a growth rate of 0.8% in 2011, one of the lowest in modern times. It improved albeit slightly to 3.1% in 2016; that too was a no better story. This growth pattern was a lack of prioritization and support for the agriculture sector by the previous Government.”
Ghanaian farmers deserve better on their investment – Mahama
Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has commended all farmers and fisher-folk for their hard work as the country celebrate Farmers’ Day.
In a post on his Facebook page, the former President argued government to continue with programmes that would ensure efficiency in the agriculture sector.
“As we celebrate our dear farmers, today, we must as a nation decide to move beyond mere words and support them with the needed inputs and machinery to ensure safety and efficiency in agriculture”.
“I urge government to pay serious attention to, and continue programmes such as the Agricultural Mechanization Centres, the Farmers Service Centres and other policies like the deliberate development and rehabilitation of irrigation facilities and provision of targeted funding through the EDAIF, now Ghana EXIM, to farmers.”
He also pointed out that farmers deserve better returns on their investment than what government is offering, and demanded that government does better for Ghanaian farmers.
60-year-old B/A native adjudged 2018 National Best Farmer
Meanwhile, 60-year old James Obeng Boateng from the Brong Ahafo Region has been adjudged the 2018 National Best Farmer.
He was presented with a cheque of GHc 480,000 by President Nana Akufo-Addo, at the 34th edition of the celebration. Mr. Boateng, a father of six from the Nkoranza South District of the region, has been farming for the past 18 years.
He cultivates cassava, cocoyam, cereals, okro, pepper, garden eggs, mango and cashew, as well as rearing livestock like cattle, goats and sheep. He also manages two fish ponds as well as 100 beehives.
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By: Jude Mensa Duncan | Citinewsroom.com | Ghana
