The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), with support from STAR Ghana Foundation and funding from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, convened a forum for stakeholders in the agricultural space to engage with political parties on their policies and plans for improving the sector. Held in Accra, the event provided a platform for selected political parties to discuss their proposed policies and programs for the agricultural sector, as outlined in their respective manifestos. The forum also served as an avenue for farmers and other stakeholders to share their concerns and expectations and for political parties to provide clarity on their promises to Ghanaians. Representatives from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Movement for Change, and Independent Presidential Candidate George Twum-Barimah-Adu attended the event.
Mr. Bismark Owusu Nortey, the Acting Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), emphasized the association’s consistent engagement with political parties to address agricultural concerns, especially for small holder farmers. He noted that, in every election period, PFAG assesses selected parties’ manifestos to ensure they prioritize expectations of small holder farmers and devise clear strategies to address them. According to him, over the years, PFAG has collaborated with political parties to develop agricultural policies in their manifestos. This partnership aims to improve the sector through targeted interventions. He further stressed that the winning party will be held accountable for its promises and commitments to enhance the livelihoods of farmers, especially smallholder farmers.
Dr. Charles Nyaaba’s presentation shed light on the pressing issues faced by smallholder farmers in Ghana. Despite their significant contribution to the country’s food production and export, these farmers are beset by numerous challenges. Climate change, illegal mining, and the high cost of agricultural inputs are just a few of the obstacles hindering their ability to produce food sustainably and improve their livelihoods. He emphasized the need for political parties to prioritize sustainable agricultural interventions. This is crucial for addressing the critical challenges facing the sector. By doing so, Ghana can ensure food security, improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers, and promote sustainable agriculture.
The invited political parties were then offered the opportunity to share their proposals to the audience. The NPP’s interventions focused on climate-smart agricultural practices, de-risking agriculture and increasing mechanisation. Similarly, the NDC indicated priority areas such as the development of agricultural hub, development of national livestock feed program among others for agricultural transformation. Industrialisation, redistribution of resources for rural development and the development of sector-specific agricultural programs were some key highlights of the Vice president of the independent presidential candidate. Lastly, the movement for change stressed on specific areas such as the promotion of agricultural research and technology innovations, establishment of dedicated agricultural credit schemes, empowering private sector participation in the provision of production inputs and machineries and the promotion of climate-smart solutions to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector.
In response, participants expressed their concerns and frustrations about the ineffective and unsustainable interventions by successive governments over the years, as well as the unfulfilled promises made to the agricultural sector. Key issues dominated the discussion, including limited access to technologies such as machinery and warehouses for smallholder farmers, the devastating impact of illegal mining on food production, difficulty in accessing credit facilities for farmers. In closing the session, the participating political parties pledged to commit to developing and implementing transformative plans and strategies to revitalize and sustain the agricultural sector. They vowed to improve the lives of farmers, particularly smallholder farmers, and ensure a vibrant and sustainable agricultural sector for the future.
The Acting Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) emphasized the importance of continuous dialogue and collaboration among political parties to drive transformation in the agricultural sector. He urged representatives to remain open to ongoing discussions, promoting a sense of cooperation and collective responsibility. The director reaffirmed PFAG’s commitment to supporting the winning party in contributing to the sector’s transformation. He also stressed the need for stakeholder involvement in selecting the sector minister, ensuring that only qualified and dedicated individuals are appointed. This commitment to collaboration and stakeholder engagement is crucial for fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among all parties involved. By working together, PFAG and the political parties can drive meaningful change and improvement in the agricultural sector.