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Tag: Owusu Afriyie Akoto

  • Prioritising Agriculture will help solve all our fiscal problems — Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto

    Prioritising Agriculture will help solve all our fiscal problems — Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto

    Aspirant flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto believes making agriculture a priority can alleviate Ghana’s economic difficulties.

    He stated that the country’s high dependency on revenues from oil and gold exports has not adequately tackled the country’s economic needs.

    “We’ve been digging gold in Obuasi for how long? Over a hundred years. Where has that gotten us? We’re the second biggest gold producer. Where has that gotten us? It has just gotten us into the hands of the IMF. Oil, which President Kufuor’s time was discovered was going to take us out of our many problems, what has it done? Oil production recently has been going down.

    “So these things won’t solve our problem. If we rely on gold and oil and all those things we will forever go back to the IMF and IMF and IMF. We’ll continue to borrow and this significant economic development that we all wish could happen will never happen,” he said on PM Express on JoyNews.

    Taking priority in agriculture, according to the former Agric Minister, would provide a steady revenue flow for the government to support its development goals.

    According to Dr Afriyie Akoto, the Akufo-Addo government laid a firm basis for that transition, which he hopes to expand on if given the go-ahead.

    “Agriculture is one reliable sector which can give us the cash flow to enable us to fund all our activities; to fund our industrial development, our health, our education, our infrastructure, the motorways and the bridges and all those things that we want. It is the only one.

    “But we haven’t been prioritised it enough to do that. That is my thesis. And what we have done, the Akufo-Addo government has done is to provide the foundation upon which this can happen,” he added.

  • Ministerial reshuffle looms as Agric Minister resigns

    Ministerial reshuffle looms as Agric Minister resigns

    Following the resignation of two ministers, Dailyguide has reported that the Akufo-Addo-led administration may soon undergo a reorganization of its cabinet.

    The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Owusu Afriyie Akoto tendered in a resignation from his role as state minister on Tuesday, following the resignation of the Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen some few days ago.

    According to Daily Guide, even though the President had on several platforms justified the inclusion of his ministerial team, the pullout of the two ministers has made it inevitable to reshuffle the team with possible merging of some ministries.

    It is also expected that, Water and Sanitation will be collapsed with Sanitation joining Local Government and Water Resources going back to Works and Housing.

    Per the article published by the Daily Guide, unconfirmed sources revealed that former General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu may make his way to join the government.

    The source also revealed that, the reshuffle may affect the MP for Abetifi and former Minister of State for National Security, Bryan Acheampong, who have been tipped for the Agric and Transport Ministries as well as National Security.

  • Resign if you want to contest NPP presidential primaries – Group to Akufo-Addo appointees

    Resign if you want to contest NPP presidential primaries – Group to Akufo-Addo appointees

    A pro-NPP youth group in the Upper West Region wants all government appointees and members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) currently holding offices to relinquish their post if they intend to contest the party’s flagbearership race.

    The group is urging such persons to follow the steps of the Former Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen and the Minister for Agriculture, Owusu Afriyie Akoto who recently resigned to focus on the NPP race.

    Addressing a press conference in Wa, the convener of the group, Ahmed Marzuk said, “we would like to use this medium to urge all current ministers and party members holding other portfolios in government who intend to run for the NPP flagbearer position to follow the example of Alan and resign.”

    The Former Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen and Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr, Owusu Afriyie Akoto have quit their ministerial positions to contest the NPP flagbearership race.

    Meanwhile, the party has fixed January 31 to announce dates for the primaries.

    Other emerging names including Vice President Dr, Mahamudu Bawumia, Kennedy Agyepong, Kwabena Agyepong, Joe Ghartey, are yet to openly announce their interest in the presidential slot of the NPP.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • I don’t see what Alan will do differently – GAWU General Secretary

    I don’t see what Alan will do differently – GAWU General Secretary

    General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU), Edward Kareweh has cast doubts on the effectiveness of Alan John Kyerematen’s policies in his bid to become flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    Mr. Edward explained that Mr Kyerematen’s policies are generalised, making it difficult to conclude that such policies are not doable.

    “I believe all that happened had cabinet endorsement and he was one of them. So I’m not seeing what he could come to do differently. If he then becomes the president, he’s not the person who’s going to implement those policies,” he said on Wednesday.

    I don't see what Alan will do differently - GAWU General Secretary

    Speaking on JoyNews’ News Desk, the union’s General Secretary insisted that the trajectory in the roll-out of policies by former Trade Minister’s government leaves questions about his latest announcement.

    “It’s his ministers like him as he is today who’s not a president that implement policies. So I’m not too sure that if he becomes the president and he has these ideas and then you have a minister to implement those policies, he can guarantee that those policies would be properly implemented.

    “So if he’s still talking about generalities, and when you’re are the point of generalities, it is very difficult for one to say it is not doable. But when it comes to the details, what we know, the experience that we already have in this country, particularly with his government gives a lot of doubt,” he added.

    However, a Marketing Consultant at the University of Education, Winneba, Dr. Bernard Tutu-Boahene is of the view that Mr Kyerematen’s speech reflects an acknowledgment of the “good things that the Akufo-Addo led government had done and he believes that there’s still room for improvement.”

    According to him, “the fact that he was serving in the Akufo-Addo-led government doesn’t mean that he was part of, he probably agreed with it.”

    He said Mr Kyeremanteng’s speech only reveals that he could have done things differently if given the nod.

    The former Trade Minister announced his resignation on January 10, 2023, to pursue his presidential ambition.

    The 67-year-old politician is seeking to file nomination to contest in the flagbearership race of the governing NPP.

    “I wish to use this platform to formally announce my decision to contest the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party when the Party officially opens nominations for that purpose,” he said in a televised broadcast.

    Some policies revealed in his speech include; Downsizing of government, New Agricultural Revolution (NAR) for Ghana, a Strong Macroeconomic Environment amongst others which are classified under one title called the “Great Transformational Plan” (GTP).

    Following his resignation was another resignation of the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto who is also seeking to contest in the flagbearership race.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • ‘Prices are a bit high’ – Civil servants compare prices at Agric Ministry food sale with those in public markets

    Some civil servants have expressed their disappointment with prices at the PFJ market.

    The Ministry of Food and Agriculture began the sale of ‘cheap’ foodstuff to Ghanaians today November 11, 2022.

    The move, the Ministry noted, is to sell foodstuff directly from the farmers in the rural areas to persons in the urban areas at a much cheaper rate.

    However, some civil servants who partook in the sales have expressed their disappointment with the prices of the items.

    On sale today was fresh plantains, which sold for between 10, 15 and 20 cedis per bunch.

    The buyers said there was no difference between what is sold in the market.

    Speaking to JoyNews at the Agric Ministry where the exercise was held, a civil servant who works at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources said: “To me, it’s a good initiative but since I heard it was a pilot, we are expecting that the next bunch that will come, the price will really go down a bit. Last week I bought one bunch for 15 in the market. It was reasonable, looking at the size. So I can’t see any big difference between what is here and what is in the market.”

    She added: “My view is that maybe if you are coming from Amasaman, Pokuase to come to the Ministry, transportation is like 10 15 cedis, so I don’t see the point.”

    Another noted that: I wanted some perishable goods but unfortunately they are saying they are not going to bring anything of that sort. It’s a very good exercise but with the plantain I saw, I was expecting the price to be down, I did some comparisons and I realized that the prices here are a bit high, so if they can bring it down a bit for us.”

    The PFJ market is sponsored by the Ministry and is purposed to cushion persons from the increasing cost of food commodities in the capital.

    Speaking at a meeting with farmers in Sefwi Wiaso in the Western North Region, last week sector Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said; “the ministry itself is going to take its own initiative.”

    “We are going to link up with the farm gate so that we make all the arrangements to ensure that we put up kiosks on our compounds at the ministry, specifically for food from here [Sefwi Wiaso] and we are going to give it a lot of publicity,” the minister said.

    Meanwhile, Ghana is recognized as the nation with the biggest increases in food prices by the World Bank.

    With a 122% increase in food prices, the nation has achieved the toughest achievement in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Source: Ghanaweb 

  • Where is your scorecard? – Dzifa Gomashie descends on Afriyie Akoto, Asenso Boakye

    The Member of Parliament for Ketu South, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has descended on two sector ministers, Owusu Afriyie Akoto and Francis Asenso-Boakye, over their performances in their respective sectors.

    The MP, in separate posts on her Facebook page, questioned the outputs of the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Works and Housing, respectively, asking how they can prove to Ghanaians that they are working.

    In posts, which included photos and videos she captured from Morocco, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP wondered why, in the case of Afriyie Akoto, he was yet to show physical evidence of his successes with the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs.

    “Dear Minister of Agriculture, people are working without the slogan in other African countries. In these pictures and videos are green houses in Morocco… PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS!

    “Where is your scorecard?” she quizzed.

    Dzifa Gomashie also quizzed the Minister of Works and Housing on why he has not allowed Ghana’s Saglemi Housing Project to become operational, regardless of the existing allegations.

    “Dear Minister for Works and Housing,

    “This could be our SAGLEMI after 6 years. Even if what you alleged was true, 6 years is long enough for you to have given Saglemi life.

    “Where is the scorecard?” she wrote.

  • Agric minister: Sack him, he has run out of ideas – Kofi Akpaloo to Akufo-Addo

     Founder and leader of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG)Percival Kofi Akpaloo, has expressed doubts about the leadership skills of Agriculture Minister Owusu Afriyie Akoto in charge of the nation’s flagship Planting for Food and Jobs program.

    He argued the sector minister has run out of ideas to add any progress to the development of the agricultural sector.

    “There was a major problem with the prices of the raw materials, especially maize and soybean. Maize, for instance, went up by 100%, and then wheat and soybean all went up,” he said.

    “Why must we import frozen chicken and maize while we can grow some in Ghana? President Akufo-Addo has to relieve him of his post, “Kofi Akpaloo exclusively told Accra-based Angel FM.

    He further revealed that the Minister for Agriculture had disobeyed the president’s directives to save the local poultry industry.

    President Akufo-Addo has often touted the progress of the planting for food and jobs programme, alluding to the feat it has achieved.

    This, he said, is a complete misapplication of the subsidies.

    He believes it would only be proper if the sector minister is relieved of his position.

  • Kofi Adams has threatened to bring the minister of agriculture before the privileges committee.

    Kofi Adams, a member of parliament from the Buem constituency, has threatened to summon Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the minister of food and agriculture, before the Privileges Committee.

    He claims that when the Minister stated conflicting things on two separate times about whether or not machinery was imported into the nation for the production of maize, he was spreading misinformation on the floor of the House of Representatives.

    Kofi Adams urged the Minister to apologize or face the Privileges Committee in a statement to Citi News

    “Unless the Minister withdraws his previous response and apologizes, I will be requesting to the Speaker that the Minister be referred to the Privileges Committee.
    However, it is obvious that we must put both the constitution’s and our standing rules to the test.

    Recently, the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu demanded the urgent summoning of the Minister for Food and Agriculture over the state of the poultry industry in the country.

    According to him, the scarcity of ingredients like maize for poultry feed and other teething challenges is gradually crippling the sector.

    The ongoing war in Ukraine has left Ghana and the rest of the world short of important grains.

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has publicly expressed concern about the shortage of fertiliser and its relationship with the production of grains.

    Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, June 17, 2022, Mr. Iddrisu bemoaned the current state of the poultry industry and underscored the need for urgent action.

    “There is a seeming problem with the poultry industry in Ghana. Poultry farmers have difficulty accessing what they call poultry feed,” the Minority Leader said.

    He noted that the closure of some poultry-related businesses because of some difficulties had come to his attention.

    “We are already an unacceptable net importer of poultry when we have the capacity and capability to produce the poultry that we need,” Mr. Iddrisu said.

    He noted further that the poultry industry “remains a major source of employment apart from satisfying the protein needs of Ghanaians.”

    In 2021, chicken imports were estimated at 350,000 metric tonnes.

    According to forecasts for 2022, imports of chicken could rise to 400,000 metric tonnes.

    Source:The Independent Ghana

     

     

  • Data on 2018 maize production from Agric Ministry wrong – Dr Akoto

    Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has said that documents from his ministry that show that Ghana’s maize production in 2018 was around 600,000 metric tons is wrong.

    The Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Operational Performance (2017-2018) report prepared by the ministry’s research department showed maize production for 2018 was 637,200 tons.

    In a Citi FM interview monitored by GhanaWeb, the minister said, “No, no, before we came into office, the highest maize production in Ghana was 1.8 million metric tons. We have increased that to 3.1 million metric tons by 2020 … the total production (in 2018) was never 637,000 metric tons.

    “You are being too technical here; you are asking me statistics … I cannot sit here and give you specific statistics, but if you say that Ghana’s total production of maize is around 600,000, I will challenge you to that, is not true. It is never true (that we produce around 600,000)… this document is wrong.

    The minister also refuted claims of food shortage in the country, saying that “we are in a very comfortable position. Before 2017, we were importing food into the country, even plantain from Côte d’Ivoire.

    “I am saying that we have statistics to show the amount of food that we have been exporting to neighbouring countries has been going up. If we didn’t have a surplus, how could we be selling food to our neighbours,” he said.

    The minister, however, accepted that there was a shortage of animal feed in 2020 due to a drought in the forest belt of Ghana, which reduced the production of maize and other grains.

    He added that the drought was ameliorated by the increase in grains production in the Savana Region due to the success of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Managing bird flu has been challenging – Minister

    The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has outlined some measures put in place to control the spread of bird flu in Ghana.

    He indicated that there has been a total ban on the import of poultry products from our neighboring countries where the outbreak has already been confirmed.

    He added that to ensure public safety, the public has been advised to report any unusual deaths in domestic poultry and wild birds.

    “Citizens should desist from handling dead birds with bare hands and consume only well-cooked poultry food and products,” he said.

    Mr. Akoto however said the containment of the bird flu has been challenging, due to limited budget and inadequate monitoring from the ministry.

    He revealed that between 2021 and 2022 an approval for the recruitment of 500 veterinary officers would be given.

    He said the ministry has secured cabinet approval for emergency funds of $43, 984,17.70p million dollars for compensation of affected farmers and procurement of equipment.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • My GH₵3 plantain comment taken out of context Agric Minister clarifies

    Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie-Akoto says earlier claims attributed to him that a bunch of plantain costs as low as GH₵3 was taken out of context.

    According to him, he rather referenced two years ago and not this year when he stated that he bought a bunch of plantain at GH₵3 on the Ghanaian market thereby signifying that food prices have reduced drastically.

    Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto at a press briefing last month said food prices in the markets are at an all-time low, compared to 4 years ago when a bunch of plantains could be bought for ¢40.

    The Minister attributed what he described as the drastic drop in food prices to the successes chalked by the planting for food and jobs programme.

    That comment incurred the wrath of the populace with various stakeholders insisting those claims could not be accurate.

    But at a media engagement in Parliament today, Thursday, May 28, 2020, Dr. Afriyie Akoto said his comment was misconstrued.

    “I was taken totally out of context and I am not prepared to go back there. If you look at the records, two years ago plantain was so low, nobody can deny that. We are are the ones who keep statistics of prices in the market.”

    “We have over 300 officials of the ministry in all the major markets in the country and we have the record and I can show you that at one point a bunch of plantain was indeed 4 cedis here in Accra but I was taken out of context and I am not ready to go on a wild goose chase,” Dr. Afriyie Akoto said.

     

    SOURCE: ABC News

  • No Agric Minister can beat Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto’s achievements – Appiah Stadium

    An ally to Former President John Dramani Mahama, Appiah Stadium, has openly confessed that no Minister for Agriculture in the annals of the country’s history, has performed better than the current Minister, Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.

    Appiah Stadium, who is a harsh critic of the current administration stated emphatically on a popular radio station, Okay FM, that he is very much impressed with the job executed by Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, stressing that no Minister of Food and Agriculture can be compared to him.

    “Kwame, let me state on authority and this is what I have personally witnessed with my eyes; what I saw at Ejura last week when I visited, the kind of support the Agriculture Minister has given to farmers and how this has resulted in a bumper harvest of foods, Kwame, I must confess I have never seen it in my life” Appiah Stadium stated.

    According to him, “even the likes of Fiifi Kwetey, who was Food and Agriculture Minister under my Boss John Dramani Mahama, cannot compare himself to Dr. Akoto”, and further stressed; “the man has done very well and must be commended”.

    In an audio that has gone viral, the popular Former President Mahama staunch supporter said he knows his testimony will not go down well with some leading members of the opposition NDC but “there can only be one truth in the world and that is it,” he said.

    Watch video below:

    Source: Peace FM