The Planting for Food and Jobs Secretariat of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has cleared Demeter Ghana Limited, a fertilizer distribution company under the Planting for Food and Jobs which was suspended indefinitely for breaching the modalities of the PFJ fertilizer distribution programme.
Two articulated trucks belonging to Demeter and carrying 4,000 bags for PFJ fertilizer meant for farmers in Kassensa Nankana Municipal was seized on Sunday, June, 9 by security officials at the Paga border in the Kassena Nankana West District.
The impounded fertilizers were in 25kg bags and were loaded in two articulator trucks with the registration numbers GT 3181J and AS7300V respectively purportedly attempting to smuggle them to neighbouring Burkina Faso.
Again, copies of the waybill of the fertilizers were neither sent to the office of the Upper East Regional Minister nor the Municipal Chief Executive for Kassane Nankana for endorsement which contravenes the government’s subsidized fertilizer distribution policy.
The PFJ secretariat subsequently suspended Demeter Ghana limited indefinitely on the June 11, for breach of the implementation modalities of the programme.
But in a letter dated 25th July 2019 and signed by Director of Crop services Seth Osei Akoto, the Planting for Food and Jobs of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture after a thorough investigation of the matter have revoked the indefinite suspension meted on Demeter Ghana limited.
The company (Demeter Limited) with immediate effect from Thursday, August 1, 2019, will commence distribution of fertilizer to farmers across the country.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture advised distributors of Demeter Ghana limited to strictly comply with the Ministry’s modalities for the distribution of government-subsidized fertilizer to avoid future sanctions.
It is unclear whether the confiscated 4,000 bags of fertilizer currently at the warehouse of the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council will be released to Demeter Ghana limited or its distributor Mybarnes limited or sole to farmers and later reimburse Demeter Ghana limited.