Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama has lashed out at government for running the agriculture sector aground, despite billions of cedis allocated to the sector under the guise of Planting for Food and Jobs.
For him the high food inflation has exposed their failure and Ghanaians particularly farmers should not be hoodwinked by another gimmick to siphone state resources.
Mr Mahama who is on a campaign tour of the Bono East region was reacting to government’s request for GHC500 million to support farmers affected by the ‘dry spell’ in the northern belt of Ghana and parts of the Bono Ahafo area of Ghaba.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam on Wednesday August 28, formally requested the release of GH₵500 million from the Contingency Fund to help address the food insecurity threat posed by the ongoing drought in middle and northern belts of Ghana – he noted but explained that, the amount is the tax payer’s money and cannot be misapplied for votes.
He told cheering supporters at a mini rally at Ayorya in the KINTAMPO South constituency that the NPP is simply scheming to buy votes after realizing their abysmal performance.
“I can even say that the dry spell is as a result of their hard luck because currently they have recalled parliament to approve an amount of 5million cedis to import maize and rice to support farmers” he lamented
Mr. Mahama further added that though the demand for accountability from the disbursement of the Covid-19 relief fund has not been made public, Ghanaians will not allow themselves to be swindled.
“We know what they are capable of doing. They shared the Covid-19 relief funds for their party chairmen, women organizers and members. But this time Ghanaians are wide awake and will not allow them to divert any funds” he warned
Already Ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament, Isaac Adongo, said a number of issues must be addressed before the committee can approve the funding.
Adongo emphasised the need for a comprehensive breakdown of the GH₵500 million allocation, specifying how the funds would be distributed at the regional, district, and community levels, including details on individual beneficiaries
