Akufo-Addo calls for collaboration between policymakers, farmers

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called for constant engagement between policymakers and field operatives in ensuring a fruitful implementation of government policies and programmes in the area of agriculture.

Alluding to the Asian model, he said in order to succeed as they did, there was the need to replicate what they did here in Ghana.

That, the President said, was “the constant interface between policy-makers and those in the field.”

He was of the belief that the Asian model, which is agriculture-based export-led industrialisation, was the model for Ghana.

President Akufo-Addo said that when the National Farmers and Fishermen award winners of Ghana and other farmer associations called on him at the Flagstaff House last Wednesday.

Cross-fertilisation of ideas

The President observed that if that interface between policymakers and those in the field continued to be fertile and there was a cross-fertilisation between the policymakers and the operators, “I think we are almost bound to succeed in whatever we have decided to undertake.”

President Akufo-Addo proposed that the two parties should meet regularly so that the government could be fully informed about the pre-occupations of the association and what could be done for them.

He said it was obvious that the objectives of the association were representative of the entire country and that they were cardinal and had everything to do with how agriculture and for that matter, the economy, could be transformed.

The President observed that the fundamental agricultural plans and policies of the government were appealing to the association, for which reason it had lent its support.

“That’s very comforting and that means that there is support in the field for what we are trying to do,” the President indicated.

He said, “I think that the proposals that you are making about influencing policy are 100 per cent in the right direction.”

Influencing policy

President Akufo-Addo added that if there was that intercourse between “those of us sitting in the offices making policies and those of you in the field actually implementing, it should also mean that you have the space to influence policy.”

He said he wanted the interaction with the group to be a permanent feature of his government so that they could have frequent meetings where the ministers of key issues would be present to address them.

That way, he said, the government and the association could collectively make a great impact on the people, adding: “I want to partner with you for us to achieve our common objectives.”

He said it was regrettable that they had made some proposals to the previous administration over a year ago and nothing had been done, promising that his administration would not do things as had been done in the past.

More collaboration

The Chairman of the Farmers Association, Mr Davies Narh Korboe, said the association had a lot to offer towards the government’s planting for food and jobs programme.
He noted that agriculture and agribusiness provided the window of employment for the youth to address the national challenge of youth unemployment.

Mr Korboe assured the President of the association’s preparedness to support initiatives being rolled out by the government towards the enhancement of the standard of living of all Ghanaians.

Writer’s email: victor.kwawukume@graphic.com.gh