Planting for Food and Jobs: Akufo-Addo sends important message to chiefs

Chiefs and other traditional authorities have been urged by President Akufo-Addo to make land freely accessible for the nation’s large-scale agricultural endeavors.

In accordance with the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) phase II programme, the chiefs, who are the guardians of the land, are responsible for releasing areas to allow for large-scale commercial farming.

At a roundtable conversation with members of the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi, President Akufo-Addo made the request.

The purpose of the discussion with the traditional leaders was to talk about and consider the active participation of chiefs in the PFJ II project’s second phase.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, led by Bryan Acheampong, was the one who started it.

According to the President, agriculture continues to be the engine that drives all activity in Ghana, thus it is crucial to place it firmly so that it may take the lead in the country’s growth.

He said that despite COVID-19’s destructive impact on the world’s economy, the government had persisted in making significant efforts to maintain economic sustainability through a variety of initiatives.

The high upfront cost of purchasing property inhibited agriculture in the nation, according to Nana Akufo-Addo, who also underlined that the government was shifting away from state land purchase for agricultural purposes.

In contrast to the past, when governments bought property under the executive instrument for agricultural reasons, he informed the chiefs that under the PFJ II, the government will consider a new policy direction in that regard.

He said that conventional authorities still acted as catalysts for growth and were essential to carrying out government programs and plans.

Despite the problems posed by climate change, the President said that via government interventions and policies in the agricultural sector, the nation’s fortunes had started to turn around systematically in the direction of microeconomic stability.

By providing land for the PFJ II farming, he emphasized how important it is for the chieftaincy institution to remain vital and continue to take an active role in the historic government project.

Those in attendance were Kennedy Kankam, MCE for Asokore-Mampong, Simon Osei Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, and others.

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, President of the National House of Chiefs, served as its chairman.