Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong has denied claims that the government is distributing GH¢3,000 to 800,000 farmers in Ghana’s northern regions affected by the recent drought.
These allegations were made by Minority Leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who suggested that the government was using the GH¢3,000 payouts as a political tool to sway votes ahead of the December 7 elections.
Dr Forson argued that the payments were framed as compensation for farmers who had suffered heavy losses due to the prolonged dry spell, severely impacting agricultural productivity in the area.
He claimed that the true purpose of the funds was to influence the voting behaviour of affected farmers in this election year.
However, in a statement during a Parliamentary session on Wednesday, October 16, Bryan Acheampong categorically refuted these allegations.
He clarified that the government had pledged only GH¢1,000 per farmer, specifically targeting those most vulnerable to the agricultural challenges caused by climate conditions.
The Minister stressed that the GH¢1,000 support would be in the form of subsidized agricultural inputs, mainly fertilizers, to help sustain the farmers through the challenging period.
“We have never said we are giving GH¢3,000 to any farmer. From the outset, I clearly stated we would provide GH¢1,000 per vulnerable farmer. Fertilizers are being allocated to farmers in need, identified in each constituency,” he emphasized.
Source: Adomonline