The National President of the Concerned Farmers Association, Nana Oboadie, has launched a strong attack on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, accusing officials of sidelining genuine farmers and allowing corruption to thrive within the sector.
Speaking on Plan B FM’s “Nkosuo Nsem” programme, hosted by Obidehye Kofi Sekyi, Nana Oboadie alleged that the ministry is being run by “cronies” who he claims do not represent the interests of the wider farming community.
According to him, key agricultural policies and programmes are being implemented without proper consultation with stakeholders, particularly farmers who are directly affected by such initiatives.
He further alleged that funds meant to support smallholder farmers have been mismanaged, claiming that about $20 million earmarked for farmers has gone missing.
Nana Oboadie expressed doubts about the success of the President’s Special Initiative for farmers and agriculture, insisting that corruption within the ministry could derail the programme before it achieves its objectives.
He also accused government officials and members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of hijacking funds intended for farmers, while working with a small group of individuals “disguised as farmers” instead of engaging the broader farming population.
“There are criminals within the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the situation must be tackled,” he said.
The farmers’ leader is therefore calling on the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, to take decisive action to reform and reset the ministry to restore confidence among farmers.
Nana Oboadie also stressed that agricultural transformation cannot be achieved by relying solely on technical experts, insisting that farmers themselves must be actively consulted in designing and implementing policies.
He further called on the youth to take a keen interest in agriculture and contribute to government flagship programmes such as Feed Ghana and Nkokonkititi.
His comments come on the back of remarks by the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, who recently disclosed government plans to establish 250 Farm Service Centres across the country over the next four years to boost agricultural productivity.
According to Dumelo, the initiative forms part of broader interventions aimed at providing farmers with improved access to equipment, inputs and other essential services to expand production and enhance efficiency.
He also indicated that President John Dramani Mahama is expected to cut the sod for the first set of Farm Service Centres in the Afram Plains within the next one or two weeks, marking the beginning of the nationwide rollout of the programme.
However, Nana Oboadie insists that such initiatives will only succeed if government engages farmers directly and ensures transparency and accountability within the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
By: Bernard Mensah |Planbfmonline.com
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