Konkomba, Bassare, other groups urged to unite for food security
The National Public Relations Director of the Konkomba Youth Association (KOYA), John Maakorpu, has called on Konkomba, Bassare, Bimoba, Chamba, Moba and other Gurma-speaking groups in Ghana to strengthen their unity and harness their collective agricultural potential to improve food security.
Mr Maakorpu said the groups shared strong historical, cultural, linguistic and agricultural ties that could provide a solid foundation for greater collaboration in tackling the country’s food production challenges.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), he urged the various Gurma communities to move beyond their traditional and cultural relationships and develop a common agricultural agenda capable of increasing food production and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
According to him, agriculture has traditionally been central to the livelihoods of Konkombas, Bassares, Bimobas, Chambas, Mobas and other Gurma communities, particularly in the cultivation and trading of yam and other food crops.
He said their close linguistic and cultural connections made cooperation among the groups relatively easy.
“If a Konkomba man goes to a Bassare community, he does not necessarily need an interpreter to understand what the Bassare man is saying, and the same applies when a Bassare person visits a Konkomba community,” he said.
Mr Maakorpu noted that these shared characteristics reflected a common heritage and could be leveraged to promote cooperation in agriculture, trade and community development.
He pointed to the major yam markets across the country as evidence of the significant contribution of Gurma communities to Ghana’s food production and distribution networks.
“Whenever you go to any of the major yam markets in Ghana, you will realise that a greater number of the farmers and traders come from the Gurma groups,” he said.
He therefore urged traditional leaders, youth organisations, farmer groups and other stakeholders to work together to establish a coordinated agricultural strategy that would promote increased production and create better economic opportunities for farmers.
Such collaboration, he said, could improve access to markets, facilitate the exchange of farming knowledge and technologies, and make it easier for farmers to access essential agricultural inputs and other resources.
Mr Maakorpu also encouraged young people within the various communities to consider agriculture as a viable business rather than merely a traditional occupation.
He said Ghana’s food security required a collective effort, with communities that had strong agricultural traditions playing a critical role in ensuring adequate food production.
“Let us come together with a common purpose and focus on agriculture. If we unite our efforts, we can produce enough food not only for ourselves but also to feed the nation,” he said.
He further appealed to the government and development partners to invest in farming communities across northern and transitional Ghana by providing irrigation facilities, improved seeds, extension services, storage infrastructure and affordable agricultural financing.
According to him, such interventions would enable farmers to increase productivity, minimise post-harvest losses and strengthen the country’s capacity to meet the food needs of its growing population.
Mr Maakorpu maintained that the agricultural strength of the Gurma communities could become a major national asset if their efforts were properly coordinated and supported.