An Open Letter To The Prestea Huni Valley District Assembly

We are unhappy about post-happenings in the 33rd Farmers Day Celebration themed “Planting for Food and Jobs”. This is the first time in the history of the Constituency and Ghana at large for an award-winning Farmer to return the prize back to Government.

The Agriculture Sector is one of the backbone of the Ghanaian Economy contributing 21% to Ghana’s GDP in 2016 and employing about 40% of the total population of the Country. The government has prioritized Agriculture through the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP II), Ghana Shared Growth Development Agenda (GSGDA II) and currently Planting for Food and Jobs. All these policy Directions is aimed at ensuring food security, poverty reduction, increasing income and reduction in urbanization.

The annual Farmers Day Celebration is one of the most honorable events through which the government motivates Farmers for their contribution to the growth of the Ghanaian Economy. The Farmers Day Celebration has gone through series of Changes in the award component since it inception in 1986. The primary motive of Decentralization is to ensure equity in the allocation of resources from the Central government through the District Assemblies to the local people.

It has been observed that the award package in this years Farmers Day Celebration has being one of the best ever in almost every District in the country. We wish to make references to some Districts in the Country including Techiman North, Asunafo North, Birim North, Aowin District, Akuapim North, Kpandai District. Award winning Farmers in these District won Common prizes such as Tricycle, LCD, Pairs of Wellington Boots, Fridges, Cutlasses, Certificates, Knapsack sprayers.

According to the 35-year-Old Farmer (Mr. John Kojo Enimil), he returned the award to the Prestea Hunivalley District Assembly because equity has not been established and the award giving him excluding a Certificate not to even mention a Tricycle was a disrespect to young Farmers.

We believe that the formula for disbursing resources to the District Assemblies Common Fund does not differ from District to District and that Prestea Hunivalley just as the other Districts mentioned above should be able to provide same as done in other Districts. Currently the Tricycle is one of the modern technologies that has been adopted by most farmers in the transportation of their farm produce to the market and other inputs to the farm. This is the main reason why award-winning farmers in almost all District were given a Tricycle.

As a Youth activist group, we are by this letter drawing the attention of the Member of Parliament and the District Chief Executive to re-visit the issue because it is a disgrace to the District and might demotivate potential youth who wish to join the Sector.

SIGNED:
ADDO KWAME KYEI
SECRETARY (HIMAN ADVOCACY YOUTH NETWORK)
(0546751008)
EBENEZER OTCHERE
VICE PRESIDENT ( VICE PRESIDENT)
(0249941021)