The Minority in Parliament has criticized government over what it describes as misplaced priorities, accusing the administration of neglecting Ghana’s agricultural sector following the recent reduction in cocoa prices.
Led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, a delegation of Minority Members of Parliament engaged cocoa farmers in parts of the Central Region to discuss concerns surrounding declining cocoa prices and challenges facing the agricultural sector.
The delegation included Members of Parliament for Assin South, Ejisu, Atwima Mponua and Offinso South.
During the engagement, several cocoa farmers reportedly expressed disappointment in President John Dramani Mahama, accusing him of failing to fulfil campaign promises made to cocoa farmers.
Responding to the concerns, Mr. Afenyo-Markin criticized government for focusing more on the gold sector while allegedly neglecting agriculture. “I think the government is getting its priorities wrong. The government seems to be focusing on gold and they are rather encouraging galamsey,” he stated.
According to him, government’s focus on gold purchasing arrangements and the Gold Board initiative as a means of stabilising the economy would not deliver sustainable growth without strong agricultural production.
“An economy that does not produce cannot sustain growth. They have virtually abandoned agriculture,” he said.
The Minority Leader also questioned the visibility of the Minister for Food and Agriculture on issues affecting farmers. “Where is the Agric Minister? I have not heard him any day since he became Agric Minister addressing concerns of farmers,” he remarked.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin further argued that there appears to be little policy direction aimed at transforming agriculture or improving productivity within the sector. “Nothing to transform agriculture, nothing to incentivise agriculture, nothing to increase production and help the ordinary farmer,” he added.
He disclosed that the Minority Caucus is currently conducting independent research and collecting data to strengthen its advocacy efforts in Parliament.
“We the Minority are doing our own research through the data we are collecting. We don’t want to blow hot air. We want to be a Minority of substance,” he stressed.
According to him, effective opposition work should be driven by knowledge and evidence-based arguments rather than numerical strength alone.
“It is your depth of knowledge that matters, not the numbers, and that is what we seek to achieve,” he stated.
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