Ghana’s Agriculture Minister, Hon Afriyie Akoto, is speculated to resign from his position today, January 10, 2022.
The news comes as a surprise to many, as Mr Akoto has been a prominent figure in ghanaian politics for many years and has played a key role in the country’s agricultural sector. His tenure as Agriculture Minister has been marked by progress in the sector, but also by some controversies.
It is not clear yet the reason behind Hon Akoto’s expected resignation, however, Presidential Affairs correspondent, Elton Brobbey, noted that the Minister, is expected to meet President Akuffo Addo later today to formally communicate his intention. But, the resignation may take effect in the next two weeks, if President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo goes ahead to accept the resignation.
This comes fews days after Trade Minister, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, resigned from the Akuffo Addo led government.
Hon Afriyie Akoto was appointed as the Minister of Agriculture in 2017, after years of experience in the agriculture industry. He took over a sector that had been underfunded for decades and which had seen little progress in modernizing and mechanizing. With his appointment, the government set out to change that and make agriculture a major contributor to the Ghanaian economy.
During his tenure, Mr Akoto has been credited with implementing several policies that have helped to modernize Ghana’s agricultural sector and improve the livelihoods of farmers. For example, he has led the government’s efforts to increase the use of mechanization in farming, which has helped to improve yields and reduce the amount of manual labor required.
Hon Akoto has helped to increase the country’s food security and reduce its dependence on imported food. He has also been instrumental in setting up the Planting for Food and Jobs campaign which is designed to create jobs for the youth, reduce poverty and hunger, and increase the country’s agricultural output.
The campaign is currently in its second phase and is expected to reach more than 2.5 million farmers.
Controversies
However, the Minister’s tenure has not been without controversies. In recent months, Hon Akoto has been criticized by some people in the political space over his handling of the fall armyworm, a pest that has been affecting the country’s maize crop. The pest has caused significant damage to maize farms and have led to significant losses for farmers.
Critics have accused the minister of not taking the necessary steps to combat the pest in a timely manner, leading to further spread of the pest. Mr Akoto has also come under fire over the government’s decision to cancel the contract of a fertilizer distribution company, which was seen as a move to benefit other companies.
The decision caused a shortage of fertilizer in the market leading to high prices and a lack of supply for farmers. Critics have said that this caused significant harm to farmers and to the agricultural sector as a whole.
The expected resignation of the Agriculture Minister comes at a critical time for the country’s agricultural sector, which is currently facing a number of challenges. The fall armyworm, for example, is still affecting the maize crop, and many farmers are struggling to make a living due to low commodity prices.
Currently, Ghana is struggling with the effects of climate change, which has led to more frequent droughts and floods.
These challenges are exacerbating the challenges that the sector has been facing for decades such as limited access to credit, poor infrastructure and lack of modern farming technology.
The loss of Akoto’s leadership, knowledge, and experience might be a great setback for the Agriculture Ministry and the country’s agricultural sector as a whole. His expected departure also raises questions about the direction the sector is headed to, and the future of the policies and programmes he has already put in place.
It is therefore important that the President acts quickly to fill the position with someone who can continue the progress that has been made in the sector and build on it. It is not yet certain who will replace Hon Akoto as the Agriculture Minister, but it is important that the government finds someone who has a deep understanding of the sector, and the challenges it is facing.
The next minister should be someone who has the ability to work with farmers and other stakeholders, to develop policies that will benefit the sector and help to improve the lives of farmers and rural communities.
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