Agric Ministry honours former ministers (Dec 21, 2009 pg 18)
THE Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has given awards to seven of its former ministers for their contributions to the development of the country's agricultural sector in the past 25 years.
The occasion was also to eulogise the efforts of the former ministers in sustaining the National Farmers Day celebrations which served as a platform to appreciate the work of Ghanaians farmers who toil to produce food to feed the people and raw materials for the country's industries as well as revenue for the country through export.
The National Farmers Day Awards started in 1984 when the first best national farmer took home a pair of Wellington boots and a machete.
The award ceremony which form part of activities marking the 25th National Farmers Day Celebrations had the ministers receiving tractors, refrigerators and 39-inch LCD televisions.
Former Peoples National Defence Council (PNDC) Secretary for Agriculture ,Dr Isaac K. Adjei- Marfo, from 1985-1986 received a tractor for conceptualising and pioneering the idea of the Farmers’ Day celebrations.
Commodore Steve G. Obimpeh (rtd) who took over the mantle from Dr Adjei-Marfo and led the sector as a PNDC Secretary for Agriculture from 1986 to 1992 and Minister of MoFA from 1996-1997 also took home a tractor for his efforts.
The country's longest serving agriculture minister, Mr Ibrahim Issaka Adams, was the recipient of a double-door refrigerator and a 37-inch LCD television.
The MoFA minister from 1997-1998 and current Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Adjei who emphasised on the ideas of empowering the youth as the engine of growth and development was also the recipient of a double-door refrigerator and a 37-inch LCD television.
Mr Joseph H. Owusu Acheampong, the Agriculture Minister from 1998 to 2001 , the initiator of the high Tech Cocoa Programme received a double-door refrigerator and a 37-inch LCD television.
Two former Agriculture Ministers of the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration Major (rtd) Courage Quarshigah who championed the cause of agriculture product packaging as the means of effective packaging and also raised the National Farmers Day award to a 3-bedroom house had his award of a a double-door refrigerator and a 37-inch television set received on his behalf, while Mr Ernest A. Debrah who took office between 2005 to 2009 and introduced the Youth Employment Programme as an avenue for sustaining agricultural growth and development was also the receiver of a double-door refrigerator and a 37-inch LCD television.
Dr Adjei-Marfo on behalf of his colleagues expressed gratitude to the government for its kind gesture and pledged their support for the ministry in order to push the agenda of the ministry forward.
He commended the staff of the ministry for their unflinching support for all the ministers they worked with which had culminated in the success story of the agriculture sector.
"Without you, our efforts would not have yielded any fruit." He stated.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Dr Marfo said the goal of the National Farmers Day was to appreciate the strength of the farmers both peasant and commercial for feeding the national.
He said the award had been successful because it had not only whip up the enthusiasm both in literate and illiterates into farming buts also helped to enhance food supply.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, in his remarks said the ceremony was a symbolic gesture from the president and the staff of the ministry who work tirelessly to complement the effort of the ministers to achieve food security for the country.
He pledged to continue the good work of the past ministers to ensure that the country did not only produce to feed itself but also for export.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, he said the country's agriculture output had increased tremendously as a result of the prudent policies and the handwork of the farmers across the country.
He stated that rice, maize, sorghum and millet had seen significant increase in the last season adding that the country was embarking on a massive mechanised farming to boost food production.
Mr Ahwoi advised the youth to avoid social vices and take the "Youth in Agriculture" seriously as it is rewarding.
The occasion was also to eulogise the efforts of the former ministers in sustaining the National Farmers Day celebrations which served as a platform to appreciate the work of Ghanaians farmers who toil to produce food to feed the people and raw materials for the country's industries as well as revenue for the country through export.
The National Farmers Day Awards started in 1984 when the first best national farmer took home a pair of Wellington boots and a machete.
The award ceremony which form part of activities marking the 25th National Farmers Day Celebrations had the ministers receiving tractors, refrigerators and 39-inch LCD televisions.
Former Peoples National Defence Council (PNDC) Secretary for Agriculture ,Dr Isaac K. Adjei- Marfo, from 1985-1986 received a tractor for conceptualising and pioneering the idea of the Farmers’ Day celebrations.
Commodore Steve G. Obimpeh (rtd) who took over the mantle from Dr Adjei-Marfo and led the sector as a PNDC Secretary for Agriculture from 1986 to 1992 and Minister of MoFA from 1996-1997 also took home a tractor for his efforts.
The country's longest serving agriculture minister, Mr Ibrahim Issaka Adams, was the recipient of a double-door refrigerator and a 37-inch LCD television.
The MoFA minister from 1997-1998 and current Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Kwabena Adjei who emphasised on the ideas of empowering the youth as the engine of growth and development was also the recipient of a double-door refrigerator and a 37-inch LCD television.
Mr Joseph H. Owusu Acheampong, the Agriculture Minister from 1998 to 2001 , the initiator of the high Tech Cocoa Programme received a double-door refrigerator and a 37-inch LCD television.
Two former Agriculture Ministers of the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration Major (rtd) Courage Quarshigah who championed the cause of agriculture product packaging as the means of effective packaging and also raised the National Farmers Day award to a 3-bedroom house had his award of a a double-door refrigerator and a 37-inch television set received on his behalf, while Mr Ernest A. Debrah who took office between 2005 to 2009 and introduced the Youth Employment Programme as an avenue for sustaining agricultural growth and development was also the receiver of a double-door refrigerator and a 37-inch LCD television.
Dr Adjei-Marfo on behalf of his colleagues expressed gratitude to the government for its kind gesture and pledged their support for the ministry in order to push the agenda of the ministry forward.
He commended the staff of the ministry for their unflinching support for all the ministers they worked with which had culminated in the success story of the agriculture sector.
"Without you, our efforts would not have yielded any fruit." He stated.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Dr Marfo said the goal of the National Farmers Day was to appreciate the strength of the farmers both peasant and commercial for feeding the national.
He said the award had been successful because it had not only whip up the enthusiasm both in literate and illiterates into farming buts also helped to enhance food supply.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, in his remarks said the ceremony was a symbolic gesture from the president and the staff of the ministry who work tirelessly to complement the effort of the ministers to achieve food security for the country.
He pledged to continue the good work of the past ministers to ensure that the country did not only produce to feed itself but also for export.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, he said the country's agriculture output had increased tremendously as a result of the prudent policies and the handwork of the farmers across the country.
He stated that rice, maize, sorghum and millet had seen significant increase in the last season adding that the country was embarking on a massive mechanised farming to boost food production.
Mr Ahwoi advised the youth to avoid social vices and take the "Youth in Agriculture" seriously as it is rewarding.
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