Author: Sefakor

Climate change policy implementation indecisions, including for galamsey and deforestation among others, are consistently creating gaps between policy and actions; thereby threatening food systems in the country. This was the position of an expert panel at the second edition of the B&FT Environmental Sustainability Summit (ESS) that was held in Accra. Speaking on the theme ‘Climate change and its impact on sustainable agriculture and resilient agri-food systems in Ghana’, a senior law lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) Law School, John Darko, noted that though advanced countries have contributed to the menace of climate change and…

Cocoa farmers are not happy about the current price of the commodity and have threatened to continue selling their farmlands to illegal miners. According to the farmers in the Prestea-Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region, they have been shortchanged by the government over the years. The farmers in an interview with Citi News in Damang, revealed that the current cocoa price is a disincentive to farming, adding that the government’s decision to withdraw free cocoa farm inputs has worsened their plight in purchasing adequate inputs for their farms. They said they now rely on major mining companies like Gold Fields…

  The Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Mr. Stephen Fiifi Boafo has warned about the repercussions of cocoa farmers abandoning their business by selling their farms to illegal miners for galamsey activities Mr Boafo stated that the dangerous socio-economic consequences that illegal mining is posing to the future livelihoods of cocoa farmers in the country need to be addressed with urgency and tasked the farmers to play a significant role in averting this from happening. According to him, illegal miners are depriving farmers of their lifetime earnings, as well as legacies that could benefit their generations. Fiifi Boafo indicated…

A young female farmer is blazing the trails in the agriculture industry as she’s making a fortune from apple farming inspired by her father’s success in the sector in the 80s. According to Kate Wambugu of Wambugu Apples’ Farm, her father ventured into apple farming in 1985, and four and half decades later, she is following in his footsteps and making good gains in a sector that was said to be impossible in Africa. Speaking to Ghanaian Youtuber, Wode Maya, the farmer said apple farming is one of the most lucrative ventures that need less orientation and does not demand…

The Upper East Regional Public Health Emergency Management Committee has extended the ban on the movement, slaughtering, sale and consumption of cattle and small ruminants and their products to the entire region. The ban which also prevents animals from entering the region became necessary after two more districts recorded cases of the anthrax diseases that broke out in the region a week ago, increasing the number of the affected districts to four. So far, Bolgatanga Municipal, Talensi, Bawku West and Binduri Districts have recorded cases of the disease which has so far killed one person and infected 13 others. The…

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has confirmed a deadly livestock disease known as Anthrax cases in the Upper East Region of Ghana after sample analysis were conducted at the laboratory of the Veterinary Service Directorate. Anthrax is a bacterial disease in livestock and it is transferable from animals to humans. The current case is limited to Binduri district in the Upper East Region, and it is highly possible to spread to other areas. As part of measures to prevent the spread of the disease, the MoFA  announced some strategies for public safety. There’s restriction on the movement of…

A proposed GHC1.20 increment per child for the National School Feeding Programme has been described as an insult to food and nutrition. Speaking to the media, the caterers under the School Feeding Programme have rejected the increment suggested by the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu saying GHC1.20 is unacceptable. The caterers who have withdrawn their services since schools reopened are demanding that the government increase the daily amount per child and settle outstanding arrears. The aggrieved caterers are demanding payment of GH¢3.50 per child before they return to work. According to the spokesperson of…

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has implored the need for vigilance among actors involved in the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire cocoa cooperation framework insisting it is important to safeguard the cooperation against the influence of external actors who may attempt to undermine the joint effort for their personal benefit. The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and Le Conseil du Café-Cacao (CCC) of Cote d’Ivoire in collaboration with their respective governments established a strategic partnership that will promote and enhance the welfare of cocoa farmers and overall sustainability for the cocoa industry. “While much progress has been made through our…

Farmers in Gomoa Okyereko in the Central Region have accused politicians and other influential people of using land guards to torment them. According to them, over 150 land guards have invaded parts of the community firing live bullets and chasing farmers with guns, and grading their lands to sell to developers. The farming community Gomoa with a population of over 2,000 is located in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region. The residents believe some opinion leaders and politicians from Effutu brought these land guards and tried to use force to take their lands without any court ruling. According…

The Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) will soon start the implementation of a new regulation that bars foreigners from buying cashew nuts directly from farm gates. According to the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Operations at the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA), Foster Boateng, enforcing the new regulation will make trading the commodity the sole preserve of Ghanaians. Explaining how this will be done, Mr Boateng stated that foreigners would have to go through registered Ghanaian agents to buy cashew nuts from the farm gates when the law is finally approved. “The draft guideline by the TCDA has been reviewed by…