The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has launched a scathing attack on the government over claims that it has defeated the army worms which invaded farms across the country.
According to the Union, the government’s claims are untrue. It made this known Thursday after visiting a number of farms in the Upper East region, where armyworms invaded numerous farms.
More than 112,000 hectares of farms have been destroyed by the green-striped caterpillar larvae of moths, according to figures by the government.
The controversy over government’s handling of the epidemic was revived Thursday when a deputy Minister for Agric, William Quaitoo described farmers still demanding compensation for their destroyed crops as fraudulent, wanting to extort money from the government.
“ Anybody in the North who says his farm was destroyed by armyworm will have to prove it,” he told Starr News.
He added, “If anybody says that his farm was destroyed by armyworm, the person will have to come and prove it. It is just a way of taking money from the government. That is what they do all the time.”
His comments angered a number of affected farmers whose lands have recorded a fresh invasion by the worms. Joseph Yaaba, a maize farmer in a village called Guabuliga in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region challenged authorities to get on the ground and stop making false claims.
Joseph Yaaba, a maize farmer in a village called Guabuliga in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region challenged authorities to get on the ground and stop making false claims.
“Currently as I am speaking to you right now….my farm which is about four acres has been affected by the army worm,” he told Starr News.
Commenting on the matter, General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union, Edward Kareweh, who has been touring affected farms said the government must stop the talk and act.
“We should not be too quick to be excited and celebrate and say that we have effectively dealt with the fall army worm. We should not be seen to be so much excited. I don’t share the view of the Minister that the fall army worm has been defeated completely,” he said.
