2007 Farmer’s Day Message from Amoafo-Yeboah

BY

Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah, Independent Presidential Candidate

Agriculture plays a vital role in the lives of Ghanaians. The land on which my fellow citizens toil, not only provides food for the nation, but directly and indirectly economically impacts the majority of Ghanaians. So it is with great pleasure that I offer my congratulations and salutations to the women and men who have chosen to cultivate our land and provide nourishment for our bodies.

However, on this Farmer’s Day, in the year of our 50th anniversary, I have a vision for individuals and businesses that are associated with agriculture. I want to develop an innovative and supportive agriculture business environment, and implement public/private sector initiatives that will benefit our farmers, and thus benefit the people of this great nation. I believe in Ghana and Ghanaians. I believe in those working in agriculture and specifically our farmers and fishermen.

Today, our farmers face many challenges. Too often, our farmers experience financial injury through post harvest losses arising from market inaccessibility. In other instances, farmers experience losses because they are unable to store crops for any period of time.

It is my belief that we can solve these two problems through a comprehensive public-private sector-partnership.

Market access, in the near term, requires feeder road networks that link crop production areas to market areas so that farmers can easily move their produce to market. This forms part of the basic infrastructure needs of our growing economy and therefore a responsibility that government must address as part of its role. In addition, I believe the private sector has to play a major role in addressing this need for market access. There exists a tremendous opportunity for the private sector to build food processing and packaging facilities in close proximity to crop raw materials. This essentially brings the market to the farmer and thereby reduces the incidents of spoilage through lack of access to markets. This will also increase the shelf life of crops, improve marketability and add value to farm produce. Creating businesses that store, process and package crops creates more revenue for farmers through increased efficiency, new non-farm and manufacturing jobs, and additional sources of tax revenue to fuel the opportunity cycle. A win-win-win situation for all Ghanaians.

I believe what the private sector needs to make this contribution is access to long term equity capital. Under my administration, I will focus on providing long-term equity financing for agriculture related enterprises. This includes providing capital for farmers themselves. Investing in Ghanaians is investing in Ghana. The Ghanaian people must be the focal point of all our plans for prosperity. And, as a nation prosperity will elude us until we look for sustainable ways to improve the lives of the majority of our people who have chosen to work our land to provide food for the rest of us.

Our farmers are hard working people. There are times, through no fault of their own, that circumstances like bad weather or other external factors cause crops to be lost resulting in financial losses. The diligent men and women, who spend their lives providing sustenance for our people, should not be financially ruined due to causes beyond their control. With 70% of our farmers being women, a devastating loss will severely impact many Ghanaian families. For situations like these, I will work to create insurance products targeted at mitigating such risks for farmers. Ghana must do the right thing for our farmers.

Under the umbrella of agriculture, farmers are not the only segment that will benefit from my policies. Fishermen and those dealing with livestock play a significant role and make a meaningful contribution towards Ghana’s agricultural development. Every year around budget time, fishermen worry if the cost for premix fuel will increase. I want fishermen, farmers and every Ghanaian to focus on earning more money. Directing our collective attention towards generating more revenue through innovation, creativity and strategic partnerships is a better use of our Ghanaian genius.

One example of an innovative strategic partnership is the Navy and Fishermen working together. Yes, the Navy and fishermen in a public/private partnership. The Navy as part of their routine duties patrols Ghanaian waters. During those regular duties, I propose the Navy personnel use their sophisticated sonar equipment, the same equipment they use to search for underwater submarines, to look for schools of fish. Through the use of available communication methods, the location of the school of fish would be forwarded to fishermen onshore. This will significantly improve efficiencies for our fishermen and reduce the cost of subsidies on premix fuel for government. Our fishermen will know exactly where to go for a good catch and eliminate the guess work that cost them and the entire nation so dearly in lost fuel from fruitless roaming on the ocean. A practical application of ICT theory and a win-win-win situation for Ghana.

There is also room for private sector focused solutions for increasing incomes for individuals and businesses for those dealing with livestock. Presently, Ghana relies too heavily on importation of livestock, meat and milk for the nation to meet its animal protein requirements. This fact is a problem. But, resident within this problem lies an opportunity for business development in livestock farming that can create jobs and increase individual income for traders, middlemen and butchers and generate additional revenue for government to fuel the opportunity cycle.

My administration will be constantly looking for ways to help Ghanaians to help ourselves. I will seek assistance, resources and intelligent input from any Ghanaian with a viable solution to our problems. I understand that it is impossible for one person to know it all and have all the answers. But, I can assure Ghanaians, that I will, my team will, and if Ghanaians are willing…citizens of Ghana will collectively solve the challenges we face. I do not say this…I KNOW this…because I believe in Ghana… and I believe in Ghanaians.

Ayekoo!