“It is not okay for us to spend almost $2bil every year to import food” Prez. Mahama

• Posted on March 9, 2014March 9, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

President John Mahama says it is unacceptable for the nation to keep spending billions of dollars importing food to feed its people despite the vast availability of arable lands.

According to president Mahama, his administration is determined to reverse the trend by offering the needed support to Ghanaian farmers to enable them to “grow food that we eat”.

President Mahama made the statement on Saturday March 8, 2014 when joined the chiefs and people of Kworli-Nakpali in the Zabzugu District of the Northern Region, where he inaugurated the Kworli Area Farmers and Fishermen Association (KAFAFA).

Formed in 2012 and with a membership of about 35,000 across some 50 communities in the Zabzugu, Nanumba South and the Tatale Districts, KAFAFA is bringing together the farmers to be able to access assistance and support, and also encourage members to adopt modern improved farming and fishing technologies.

The Association is an initiative of the Paramount Chief of the Kowrli Area Communities, the Gbulga Lana, Chief Mohammed Dawuda Jawara.

“It is not okay for us to spend almost two billion dollars every year to import food into this country. It is not acceptable,” Mr. Mahama stated.

He emphasised: “Agriculture is still the priority of this government and this country.

“You cannot leave your stomach in the hands of somebody else,” the president admonished the farmers.

He acknowledged that the major obstacle to food production in the country is the inability of farmers to organise themselves  into groups and organisations for easy identification and assistance. He therefore commended Chief Mohammed Dawuda Jawara for the initiative and pledged government support to the success of KAFAFA.