Akufo-Addo Warns Fertilizer Smugglers

President Nana Akufo Addo says persons alleged to be involved in smuggling fertilizer and other farm inputs meant for the Plant for Food and Jobs programme will not be spared.

Speaking at a meeting with the Ghanaian community in China, Nana Akufo Addo also called for attitudinal change to enhance the country’s development.

“We are going to have to stop that way of behaviour and be serious about our own development… If people are caught in this exercise of smuggling, they will face the full rigors of the law. There are no two ways about it. We cannot catch them fair enough, but if they are caught, we have to make sure the law is applied in all spheres.”

“We are still talking about the smuggling of Ghanaian fertilizers across the border. I think those are things that we Ghanaians have to think about and look ourselves in the mirror.  How come we mobilize our resources and we are complacent in having those resources enjoyed by people who are not Ghanaians. We create policies which are meant to help our people and some people find it acceptable to be in cahoots with others who are not.”

Fertilizers stolen

It emerged recently that some seven officers of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in the Sunyani Municipality of the Brong Ahafo were under investigation for stealing fertilizers for the programme.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Kweku Asomah-Cheremeh, who made this known at a press conference said the fertilizers, estimated at GH¢600,000 were stolen between November 2017 to June 2018 at the Ministry’s warehouse.