A group of farmers calling themselves Concerned Farmers Association is calling for the dismissal of the Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto.
According to them, the arrogant posturing of the Minister, coupled with his unwillingness to engage farmers on critical policy issues is affecting the progress of the Agric sector.
They further allege that all farmer based organisations were sidelined in the implementation of government’s flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs, thus leading to avoidable challenges with the programme.
Speaking to Citi News’ Duke Mensah Opoku, President of the Association, Nana Oboadie Bonsu Boateng called for the dismissal of the Minister on behalf of the Association, saying “ He is arrogant. He does not have time for us. So many people are complaining about his attitude and the way he talks. We made him the Minister. If we had not voted for Akufo Addo, he would not have been Minister of Agric. We do not want Dr. Afryie Akoto. We want him to be sacked. He is the worst Agric Minister so far in the country and we want him sacked.”
“If the Ministry wants to do anything with farmers, it has to consult this Association but since this government came, everything has turned upside down. They came up with the Planting for Food and Jobs, which is a good idea but at the end of the day, they are dealing with individual farmers,” Mr. Boateng complained on Eyewitness News.
He said farmers will embark on a demonstration if government fails to heed to their call to dismiss the Minister.
“We are giving the government up till Friday. If we do not hear anything, we will organize a demonstration.”
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Sagre Bambang, however described concerns by the farmers association as “unfounded.”
He said it was untrue that the Minister had failed to engage various groups, given that it was the same Ministry that instructed the farmers to form groups.
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Citinewsroom
