General Secretary of the Agricultural Workers Union of Ghana (GAWU), Edward Kareweh, has expressed his misgivings about the “Operation Own A Farm’ policy plan by former trades minister, Alan Kyerematen.
According to him, the problem the current government has is not about having good policies but operationalizing those policies.
Justifying his stance, he revealed that the failure of government to properly execute and implement the Planting for Food and Jobs forecasts what could potentially happen with subsequent ones. He indicated that the former trades minister has the opportunity to also help correct the problems with one of government’s flagship programmes, the Planting for Food and Jobs instead.
Mr Kareweh stated that he cannot determine what Mr Kyerematen could do different than what is currently running under the Planting for Food and Jobs. This, he explained, is because the implementation of such a policy will be dependent on the kind of minister designated to undertake it and his commitment to it.
“So, I’m not too sure, if he becomes the President and he has these ideas, and he has a minister to implement those policies, he can guarantee us that those policies will be properly implemented. When you are at the point of generality, it is very difficult for one to say it is not doable, but when it comes to the details, what we know, the history and experience we already have in this country and particularly with his government, gives a lot of doubt that what he’s saying will be done or can be done.”
Edward Kareweh
The GAWU general secretary explained that Mr Kyerematen is seeking the support of Ghanaians, particularly those within the NPP to be the flagbearer and eventually to run for presidency of this country. As such, his ambitions have been laid out in the Great Transformational Plan (GTP) by seeking to convince Ghanaians, particularly those who will vote for him to become a flagbearer to accept him.
Mr Kareweh conceded that generally, the plans by the former trades minister are good plans, but it’s not enough to have good plans. He underscored that what is more important is about the outcomes of those plans.
“Some of these plans have been part of the government that he belongs to which has been in power for nearly eight years and he as a minister responsible for trade and industry had a big role to play in achieving those developmental agenda of the government. Unfortunately, we are still talking about the development as though we are now beginning, and a new opportunity has come for us to correct the wrong. That is where the difficulty is.”
Edward Kareweh
Mr Kareweh disclosed that the New Agriculture Revolution policy by Mr Kyerematen which also includes the ‘Operation Own A Farm’ is no different from the ‘Operation Feed Yourself’ and ‘Operation Feed Your Industry’ which happened in the 1970s and was a success.
New Agricultural Revolution (NAR) for Ghana
Mr Alan Kyerematen, on January 10, 2023, in his address to the nation to declare his intention to contest for president expounded on his plan for the country when elected. Topical among them is the New Agricultural Revolution (NAR) for Ghana which will be based on five critical elements.
He indicated that this will involve introducing Technology and Innovation into Agriculture, through Research and Development (R&D) in Agronomy, Mechanization, Irrigation, and Plantation Management. He elaborated that this will build on the foundation laid by the Planting for Food and Jobs and Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) Programmes.
Additionally, he stated that there will be the establishment of Licensed Food Distribution and Marketing companies by the Private Sector throughout the country at the district level, to be supported by the Government. These companies, he emphasized, will constitute a vital link between farmers and Market Queens in the urban and peri-urban areas. It will be complemented by the introduction of a digitalized food distribution and marketing online platform which will connect producers to buyers and consumers.
Mr Kyeremanten also noted that there will be the strengthening of the Ghana Commodity Exchange as the marketplace for all actors in the Agricultural value chain and the deepening of the current regime for lending and financing for the agricultural sector under his administration.
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