President Akufo-Addo has thrown a challenge to the leadership and members of the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association (NFFAWAG) and other FBO’s, to work hard to shore up the country’s financial gains from the Agricultural Sector from its current annual 2 billion dollars.
Addressing the leadership and members of the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association (NFFAWAG) at the Jubilee House when they paid a courtesy call on the him, President Akufo-Addo, cited the fact that Ghana’s next door neighbor, Ivory Coast, ends over eight times what Ghana ends in their Agriculture sector and that it is time for Ghana to grow the sector and much up with them.
“You constitute one of the most important parts of the Ghanaian economy. Next door, our neighbour, friend and competitor gains on the average 16 billion dollars from its Agriculture, eight times more than ours. You are the only people who can fill the gap and bring us from that 2 billion to the 16 billion” President Akufo-Addo said.
Regular Meetings
President Akufo-Addo indicated that the opportunity to meet with members of NFFAWAG is one that that he takes very seriously. He suggested that the annual meeting is no longer enough and that it is his considered opinion that their meetings ought to be increased to at least twice a year.
“So your concerns are very much my concerns and that is why it is important for me to have this opportunity to talk to you on a regular basis. The yearly visit is really not enough. We should be talking at least twice a year so that in real time, we can address some of the problems” President Akufo-Addo stated. “God willing if four more for Nana works, we will have a new timetable and a schedule for our meetings” the President added.
NFFAWAG Leader
National Chairman of the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association (NFFAWAG), Davies Korboe, in his address showed appreciation to the President for keeping faith with farmers and engaging with farmers to move Agriculture to a higher level.
He listed multiple challenges that members of NFFAWAG are facing such as improved mechanization of the Agriculture sector, Agriculture financing shortfalls, issues of marketing, pricing and price stability of their produce, quality standards and pest control challenges, access to loans by rice value chain actors, storage facilities in Rice growing communities, poultry farming challenges among others. Mr. Korboe urged the President and his administration to give these concerns his immediate attention.
Assurance Over Concerns
President Akufo-Addo assured the leadership and members of NFFAWAG that their concerns are of utmost importance to him and every one of them will be addressed going forward.
“The Agribusiness community has a great potential for the rapid development of our country and anybody who is serious about Governance in Ghana has to pay a great deal of attention to your concerns so that we can all grow together” President Akufo-Addo noted.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Wilberforce Asare