Daniel Fahene Acquaye, Founder and CEO of Agri-Impact Group, has clarified that the government did not spend $6.1 million to train 500 youth in agricultural entrepreneurship.
This clarification comes after Finance Minister Dr Mohammed Amin Adam stated during his presentation of the Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Tuesday, July 23, that the government had trained about 500 youth in agricultural entrepreneurship through a $6.1 million partnership with the MasterCard Foundation.
“We have trained about 500 youth on agriculture entrepreneurship through a US$6.1 million partnership with the MasterCard Foundation. These investments have resulted in 397.5 tonnes of rice harvested in Phase I of the project. They are also leveraging approximately US$7 million in climate funds from the World Food Programme,” he said.
Many industry players in the agricultural sector have expressed concerns about the funding and the number of individuals being trained.
However, in an interview with Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Citi FM, Mr Acquaye clarified that the $6.1 million was allocated over a four-year period, benefiting 38,000 young people.
The Founder and CEO of Agri-Impact Group explained that the funding supports various activities, including the provision of starter packs, market facilitation, capacity building, technology transfer, and accommodation for the youth in farming.
“People are not understanding the statement very well and I would want to take this opportunity to clarify. Under the Happy Programme, MIDA is one of the implementing partners. MIDA has a global budget and target, MIDA is supposed to create job opportunities for 38,000 young people, at the end of the project in the 4th year.
“So, the figure that the minister mentioned which I have had calls that 500 people have been trained using $6.1 million that is not the case. The $6.1 million is for 4 years to impact 38, 000 young people. It includes the provision of starter packs, market facilitation, capacity building, and technology transfer, some might even get accommodation they will not pay for. And some will also get other services. You put it all together and it comes to $6.1 million.
“What the minister said is that as at the time he was speaking, 500 people had been trained. He didn’t say 500 people have been trained using $6.1 million, he said 500 people have been trained through a $6.1 million partnership. So, the value of the partnership is $6.1, but not the number of people who have been trained. This is for MIDA, it’s purely for rice. Let me state here and again that $6.1 has not been used to train 500 people youth,” he explained.
He further explained that the programme also focuses on the production of tomatoes, soya, and poultry, and commended the government for the initiatives instituted in the agricultural sector.
Additionally, he indicated that the Happy programme had been launched in 10 regions
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