Former Speaker of Parliament, Rev. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, asserts that Ghana will persistently seek financial assistance from the IMF unless it optimally harnesses its natural resources and prioritizes the agricultural sector.
Emphasizing that substantial investments in agriculture would lead to the development of substantial industries, he envisions a future where the nation achieves self-sufficiency and economic resilience.
“Today we are at the IMF for the 17th time, and we shall continue to go to the IMF unless we make good use of the matters of the soil, the fruits of the soil naturally given to us by our God,” Prof Oquaye said.
Speaking at the 2023 Akufo Hall National Best Farmers Lecture held at the University of Ghana in Accra, Rev. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye addressed the audience on the topic “Resilience, Technology, and Humanism: The Past, the Present, and the Future of the Ghanaian Farmer.”
The primary objective of the lecture was to promote agriculture as an appealing career option for the youth, aiming to transform their lives positively. Prof. Oquaye emphasized the need for substantial investments in the agricultural sector, envisioning the emergence of large-scale industries that would render the country self-sufficient and economically stable.
Drawing a comparison with India, Prof. Oquaye highlighted how India’s strategic focus on agriculture enabled the country to produce enough food to sustain its citizens and others, insulating it from the impact of conflicts in Russia and Ukraine. In contrast, Ghana’s heavy dependence on these nations for food left it significantly affected by the war, despite possessing vast arable lands.
Prof. Oquaye urged the government to recognize and support the efforts of the University of Ghana, particularly through the Akuafo Hall, in generating interest among the youth in agriculture. He emphasized the importance of self-sufficiency in food production, stating that if Ghana’s farmers could sustain the nation, it would not be vulnerable to disruptions caused by conflicts in other parts of the world.
Adding to this, Prof. Kwaku Oppong Asante, the Akuafo Hall Master, expressed the hall’s readiness to establish a Farmers Center of Excellence.
This center would oversee the guidance of students interested in pursuing farming as a business. Additionally, the hall pledged to provide office space on campus for the National Best Farmer and take charge of organizing an annual farmer’s symposium, all aimed at making farming more appealing to the youth.