Following the resignation of the Agric Minister, Dr. Akoto Afriyie, some of the farmer groups have recommended some individuals to the President to be appointed as the Minister for the agric sector.
To have a proactive functioning sector to enhance economic recovery and farmers’ well-being, the CEO of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana, Farmer Anthony Morrison has suggested to the President to nominate an industry player, someone who has innovative solutions and extensive contacts with the developing partners, trade missions and has some pull of funding for the industry as Agric Minister.
According to him, the President should understand the important role the sector is playing and appoint a well-deserving person, “the President should understand the important role the sector plays and bring in somebody who is well connected to the developing partners, financial institutions and have a pull of funds”.
Elaborates on his position, Farmer Morrison said looking at the government’s budget allocation to the agric sector which is GHC2.1b against GHC5.2b annual importation bill should inform the President that the country is heavily depended on the importation, however, a country that depends heavily on importation is not food independent and self-sufficient country.
In building any economy, indigenous businesses need to be supported by the government to withstand the economic and pandemic shocks.
He mentioned that the President should focus on the sector that feeds more than 34 million population for Ghana cannot continue to import food from other jurisdictions thereby creating jobs for the youth of other countries.
He called on the President to adhere to the suggestions of the industry players and nominate an eligible person to lead the sector.
