Let's eat more of what we grow• Agric Minister urges Ghanaians

Sat. May 1, 2010

THE Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has stated that unless Ghanaians consume what is produced locally, no amount of restrictions on imported goods can solve the problem of local producers.
He said although 20 per cent tariffs on imported food items had been put in place, the volume of imported foods to the country was still on the higher side.
Mr Ahwoi was answering questions at the dialogue session at the National Policy Fair in Accra yesterday.
The topic for agriculture day's discussion was: "An incursion into what kind of policies Ghana needs at this stage of her development — a review of our Agriculture and oil/gas polices.”
The broad theme of the five-day fair, which ends today, is, “Engaging the Citizenry for A Better Ghana”.
The fair, organised by the Ministry of Information, is meant to open the doors of all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to Ghanaians and enable the citizenry to engage with the leadership of those institutions to appreciate their policies, programmes and activities.
Mr Ahwoi said the government had put in place a number of interventions to ensure maximum food production, adding that it was left with the people to encourage the local producers to produce more to feed the nation at all times, but not to depend on other countries which might have their own interests.
Earlier, the immediate past Chairman of the Poultry Farmers Association, Mr Ken Quartey, had indicated that numerous promises by both past and present governments to promote the agricultural industry had not made any significant impact.
Providing figures to support his claim, he said $30 million worth of poultry products was imported into the country in 2002, $160 million in 2008 and an estimated $250 million was imported in 2009.
Mr Quartey, who maintained that he had been in the poultry industry for the past 27 years, said until pragmatic efforts were made to boost the agricultural industry, no investor would invest in that sector and called for the establishment of a proposed Poultry Development Board to see to the development of poultry.
For his part, a representative of the National Fisheries Association, Mr Joseph Nii Armah Quaye, commended the government for its efforts at providing premix on regular basis to fishermen.
He, however, reminded the MoFA of its promise to provide fishermen with cold stores and ice plants before the main fishing season in July.
A Deputy Minister of Food And Agriculture, Nii Amasa Namoale, said the government was bent on fulfilling its promise to farmers to ensure a vibrant agricultural sector.
On the issue of oil and gas, the Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission, Dr Ofosu Ahenkorah, stated that Ghana's oil policy, as it stood currently, had in place measures to ensure full exploitation of resources, as well as judicious use of revenue.
On challenges, he mentioned how to achieve significant local content, prudent management of revenue, security issues, sustained interest in more oil exploitation and also to ensure that the environment was protected.
Other speakers who contributed to the discussion were Dr Steve Manteaw of the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Mr Albert Baddoo of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), the Chairman of the Fisheries Commission, Mr Mike Acheampong, and the Director of the National Food Buffer Stock Company,Mr Osei Wusu.
The Editor of the Daily Dispatch, Mr Ben Ephson, was the moderator for the discussion.