RESPONSE TO FERTILIZER ALLEGATIONS BY HON. ALBERT SEFA BOAMPONG, DCE OFFINSO NORTH DISTRICT
It is with great sadness and regret that I respond to the recent unfounded allegations made against me by certain individuals intent on discrediting my character.
I would like to unequivocally state that I have never, and do not intend, to divert items meant for party faithfuls to NDC members. I have always been accessible to all individuals in the district, and had those spreading these falsehoods consulted me, they would have gained a clearer understanding of the government’s intervention and avoided the unfortunate series of events that followed.
The fertilizer being distributed falls under the Planting for Food and Jobs phase 2, a government initiative aimed at supporting needy farmers nationwide by providing input credit to boost productivity. The program, which began earlier this year, involved the registration of farmers starting in April 2024 through an Android application (GhAAP app) developed by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. This app captures details such as farm size, crops cultivated, and Ghana card numbers for easy identification.
As of now, the registration process is still ongoing, and farmers have been registered by the hardworking Agricultural Extension Agents of the Department of Agriculture in the Offinso North District.
To initiate fertilizer distribution nationwide, an official communiqué from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, dated 9th July 2024, with reference MB124/565/01, titled “DISTRIBUTION OF INPUTS TO FARMERS,” was sent to all MMDCs in the country. This letter, signed by the Acting Chief Director of the Ministry, identified the first 200,000 registered farmers on the GhAAP app as the beneficiaries of the initial grant fertilizers and inputs.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture downloaded the list of the first 200,000 registered farmers nationwide and segregated it by district. These lists were then distributed to the respective District Departments of Agriculture, with Offinso North farmers who registered benefiting from the grant fertilizer distribution.
At this juncture, I want to emphasize that I had no influence over who gets registered and selected for the grant fertilizer support. In addition to the registered farmers on the GhAAP app, all MMDCEs and MPs were given a quota to support vulnerable farmers within their districts. These supports are intended to help those unable to register on the app.
The Honorable Member of Parliament for the constituency, Hon. Augustine Collins Ntim, “has made available 50% of his quota to the parliamentary candidate, Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, for the constituency to support vulnerable farmers within the district.”
“Hon. A.C Ntim further offered Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah the opportunity to present a list of vulnerable farmers he wishes to support with my quota, which has been expressly communicated to him. However, both Hon. A.C Ntim and I “are yet to receive a response from Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, the PC.”
It is, therefore, quite unfortunate that these noble actions have been overshadowed by efforts from some individuals to tarnish my reputation with baseless lies.
I remain committed to contributing my all toward the success of the current NPP administration and the inevitable victory of His Excellency, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the NPP in the constituency. I will continue to work diligently with the Parliamentary Candidate for the New Patriotic Party in the constituency, Dr. Fred Kyei Asamoah, to retain the Offinso North constituency’s enviable seat.
Lastly, I wish to reiterate that with the arrival of the communication from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, signed by the Acting Chief Director, there has been no effort from my office to flout the orders received.
Furthermore, the list provided makes it impossible for anyone to determine the political affiliation of the farmers on the list. So, who am I not to adhere to the list supplied by the Minister of Agriculture through the Chief Director?
