A 54-year-old accountant and Managing Director of Bandoh Commercial Farms, Mr Adjei Twum Bandoh, was adjudged the National Best Farmer at the 19th National Farmers Day celebration at the St Augustine’s College Park, Cape Coast, yesterday.

For his prize, Mr Bandoh will receive a house to be built at a place of his choice. He has 2,767.2 acres of farmland at Kumawu and Attakrom in the Sekyere East District of the Ashanti Region.

This year’s celebration, which was attended by the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, and other dignitaries had a unique feature, with three equal best awards to fishermen.

The Second Best Farmer award of a double cabin pick-up was won by Mr Vincent Kaledzi, 50, of the New Horizon Farms at Amelorkope in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region. Madam Teni Tia, 49, of the Teen Enterprise at Pwalugu in the Bolgatanga District of the Upper East Region, took home a tractor with accessories for placing third.

In the fisheries category, Mr Ekow Kwetu, 44, from Mumford in the Gomoa District of the Central Region, took the first prize of a double cabin pick-up. Seventy-two-year-old Madam Theresa Adotey of Kotoso in the Eastern Region was rewarded with a fishing boat, an outboard motor and a fishing net as the second best fisherman.

The third prize went to Opanin Kofi Sebor, 75, from Axim in the Western Region who had an outboard motor and a fishing net. The other award winners took home assorted prizes which included refrigerators, television sets, wax prints, bicycles, sound systems, machetes and Wellington boots.

They were Mr D.K.O. Appiakubi of Ayaworaso-Okumaning in the Kwaebibirem District of the Eastern Region, best citrus farmer, Mr Kwame Twumasi of Abenaho-Abeam also in the Kwaebibirim District of the Eastern Region, oil palm and Mr Kwabena Afari, Oboadze-Aburi in the Akuapem South, pineapple.

Madam Abena Maboa,72, from Sankore in the Brong Ahafo Region, who produced 553 bags of cocoa won the best cocoa farmer and took home Accra-London-Accra air ticket provided by the Ghana Cocoa Board in addition to a refrigerator, television, machete, Wellington boots and other items.

Mr Nuhu Watra from Baho (Sampoa) Jamanroon won the prize for cashew, Mr David Boakye, Ntomea (Kwahu Bepong), coffee, Alhassan Baako, Kpalung, Savelugu/Nanton, cotton, Alhaji Seidu Sumaila, Wa, sheanut picker, Augustine A. Mensah, Amokwasua, Jomoro, coconut, Ghana Libyan Arab Company Limited, Sokpoe, Mango, Ishahu Seidu, Kintampo, maize, Gbanbu Abdulai Sitobui, Gushiegu-Gbambu, rice and Abaa Anaba, Soe, millet.

Others are Mr Kofi Tordia, Tarsor-Sissala, Soyabean, Philip Kpornuvor, Dabala Junction-Okro, Frank Deveer, Dominase, pepper, Bismark Nyarko-Akomadan, tomato, Beatrice Lamptey. Ejura, garden eggs, Adam Musah, groudnut and Matthew Nwabiche Kechiebi, cassava. The best cocoyam farmer was won by Ms Grace Bosompem, Asaboah, best plantain farmer.

Special Awards were also given to military personnel who distinguished themselves in various agricultural endeavours, and other organisations engaged in the promotion of marketing agricultural products.