Develop Innovative Agric Plan For Ghana – Bawumia

Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has charged a 16-member consultative forum to as a matter of urgency develop a comprehensive plan that will assist government to transform agriculture in Ghana.

Delivering the keynote address at a Consultative Forum for the  development of a marshal plan for the sector  held at the Peduase Valley Resort under the theme: “Transforming Agriculture to Create Jobs and Wealth for Ghanaians,” the Vice President said the vision of government is to inject renewed energy and the right spirit to reinvigorate the agricultural sector of the country, and that the two-day consultative forum is a call by the President to engage all aspects of the agricultural value chain for a total transformative plan for government to realise its vision.

Moderation and Composition of the CF

The two-day forum will be moderated by Professor Joe Amoako-Tuffuor, Secretary of Ghana’s Economic Management Team.

The 16-member panel are; Daniel Ohemeng Boateng, Director of Policy, Planning and Budget of the MoFA, Anim Odame, CEO of Lands Commission, Yofi Grant, CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Ben VA’s Nyamadi, CEO, Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, Khalip Bomba, CEO, Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency, Sabre Bambangi, Deputy Minister (Annual Crops) Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and Joseph Edmunds, CPO, Environmental Protection Agency,

The rests are: Benjamin Gyan Jesse, Consultant Kosmos Innovation Centre, Professor Alex Dodoo, DG, Ghana Standards Authority, Alhassan Andani, Co Moderator and CEO, Stanbic Bank Ghana Limited, Corné De Louw, Senior Project Manager, Rabobank, Lawrence Agyinsam, CEO, Exim Bank, Mark Owusu – Ansah, Fund Manager, Outgrower and Value Chain Fund, Thomas Essel, Research Department, Bank of Ghana and Tabi Karikari, Senior Specialist for Agriculture and Natural Resources, African Development Bank.

Panel Discussions

Three Panel sessions have been scheduled for the two-day forum.

The first Panel will look at a Policy Framework on some key cross cutting areas such as land policy, seed policy, fertilizer policy, irrigation and water management policy, sustainable land management of agricultural lands, accessibility of Agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizer, etc.

Panel two will focus on issues of technological options and Potentials available to accelerate the agricultural sector and address constraints limiting agricultural growth. The panel will also examine existing regulations on agrochemicals, disease control and use of extension services and whether they are effectively ensuring compliance.

The third, which is the agricultural financing panel will look at innovative financing mechanisms and model that can best free up capital and attract investments for agricultural actors along its numerous value chains.

On his part, the Agric Minister Owusu Afriyie  Akoto in his welcome address urged the forum to discuss all key challenges of the sector and proffer comprehensive solutions to those challenges for Cabinet’s consideration.

Source: Starrfmonline