Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has urged government to prioritize agribusiness and support farmers with favorable financing across all Agric value chains.

According to him, this is the surest way government can reduce imports, strengthen the struggling cedi and save Ghana’s economy.

Marking Farmers Day, today, December 2, 2022, His Excellency John Mahama, took the opportunity to celebrate “all farmers on this auspicious occasion for their priceless efforts that feed us and keep our industries” running.

“I urge government to prioritize agribusiness and support with favorable financing for farmers and all actors in the agricultural value chain.”
John Dramani Mahama

With Ghana’s economy at the “brink of collapse, as proven by Rating Agencies through their unending downgrades”, coupled with the hardship it has brought to many homes, H.E Mahama explained that this is the time for government to begin to take farmers and farming related businesses serious.

Also speaking ahead of the celebration, the Akufo-Addo administration, according to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, is committed to transforming the agric sector of the economy. He noted that the government is determined to harness the full potential of Ghana’s agricultural sector.

Government’s commitment to agric sector

Elaborating on the 2022 national farmers’ day theme: ‘Accelerating agricultural development through value addition’, Mr Akoto indicated that the theme also highlights government’s recognition and commitment to the sustainable development and transformation of Ghana’s agriculture as well as signifies government’s appreciation for the need to harness the potential of agriculture.

“Specific intervention with the success of the Planting for Food and Jobs speaks clearly to the government’s relentless efforts to systematically address the long-standing problems of agriculture.”
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto

The Agric minister recounted that since 2017, investments have been made by government in the various subsectors of agriculture resulting in significant achievements. Notable impact, he cited, are visible in the food crop subsector, as farmers continue to benefit from subsidized input programmes and millions of Cedis of six selected tree crops.

Dr Akoto emphasized that this year is exceptional because of the strong performance of agriculture.

“The sector grew at the rate of 8.4%, which is the highest since 1992. Annual growth had never exceeded 8%, but we have gone beyond this.”
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto

Meanwhile, Japan Motors Trading Company Ltd (JMTC), the authorized dealer of Nissan, Foton and Yamaha products handed over new Cargo Tricycles to both the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development to support the celebration of this year’s National Farmers Day.