The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has urged District Chief Executives and some foot soldiers of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to stop politicizing the distributions of fertilizer and seeds meant for farmers.
According to the Executive Director of the association, Bismark Owusu Nortey during a press conference in Accra on Thursday, August 15, disclosed that some public officials are demanding money before providing input and services to farmers despite being free under the Planting For Food and Job Phase II.
“In addition to this challenge is the current input distribution formula under the grant component of the PFJ 2.0, which has become extremely politicized and serves as an avenue for some unscrupulous public officials and politicians to demand payments from farmers before benefiting. No part of the strategy spoke about grants and the involvement of politically exposed persons in the selection of beneficiary farmers and distribution of fertilizer and seeds. However, what we are currently experiencing, across the country is the blatant involvement of NPP parliamentary candidates and DCEs, who have been given quotas of fertilizers and seeds to distribute”, he stated.
Mr. Owusu Nortey further questioned the role of DCEs and Parliamentary Candidates in the distribution process as to whether plans have changed under the PFJ 2.0.
“The farmers are asking. What is the role of the DCEs and Parliamentary Candidates in input distribution? Are they replacing the work of aggregators and the district department of agriculture and which criteria are they using to distribute the fertilizers? Would the beneficiaries pay back, if they will, who are they paying to? If they are not paying back, why must it be the role of politicians to be involved in input distribution”, he questioned.
However, PFAG called upon the government to take immediate and decisive action to address other challenges facing members of the association citing a provision of emergency relief such as immediate water supplies, including pumping machines for farmers close to water bodies.
Mr. Owusu Nortey appealed to key stakeholders and the government to extend financial support in the form of grants or low-interest credit to help recover and rebuild their livelihood.
