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Many factors contribute to the decline in profits from agriculture in Ghana, including volatility in farm product prices and farmers’ incomes, inadequate incentives for farmers, the use of outdated agricultural practices, market availability and many more.
Despite these challenges, the agricultural sector remains a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), yet governments over the years have committed few resources to improving the performance of agriculture in Ghana.
However, it is intriguing to learn that Ghana’s past and present leaders have come up with various solutions to improve the agricultural sector on various platforms.
The two presidential candidates from Ghana’s two main political parties – Nana Akufo-Addo (New Patriotic Party) and John Dramani Mahama (Democratic National Congress) – have both made specific comments on how to improve the agricultural sector while they were members of Parliament. between 1997 and 2009.
Below, I would identify some of the statements they made in the plenary session of Parliament. How have you stayed true to these views during the four years that you have both served as presidents of Ghana, and how are these thoughts reflected in your plans for the next 4 years?
John Dramani Mahama
Endorsing the Financial Policy (Budget) of the Rawlings-led second-term NDC Government, as presented to Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Mahama recalled those times when he was young when he saw large-scale rice farms in Northern Ghana student and supported government policy to promote medium and large-scale commercial agriculture.
In addition, he asked the government to ensure that farmers can get a good return on their investments to incentivize them to increase production. He said;
“Mr. President, I believe that the biggest problem of agricultural production in this country is the collapse of market prices after a good agricultural season … and I think it is necessary for this country to eliminate excess agricultural products and store those products in order to keep the prices of agricultural products stable so that farmers can get a good return on investments …
“In this sense, I suggest that the Food Distribution Corporation be strengthened and, if possible, disintegrate and that the silos that were installed by the NDC Government in various areas of this country be diverted to individuals.” ([05-March-1997] Source: Hansard of Parliament)
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo:
Speaking on the floor of Parliament in contribution to the debate on the approval of the Annual Budget Estimate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Nana Akufo-Addo drew the House’s attention to some challenges faced by farmers (especially those in her Constituency) before to get paid for the product.
He encouraged much attention to the sector to improve the performance of the sector.
“…Mr. President, there is a lot we must do to improve the performance of the agricultural sector. And at the bottom there is the question of incentives for rural producers; and that is a critical issue … we can only do it if we make a systematic effort to inject more and more resources into the rural economy … that is the true path to the national prosperity of our country ”. ([25-March-1998] Source: Hansard of Parliament)
These statements are presented by Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica) as part of its project to highlight the coherence or not in the views and ideologies of both champions of the two main political parties in Ghana, and hold them accountable for their speech while in the public office. PNAfrica is a parliamentary watchdog civil society organization promoting open parliament in Africa.
