By Laudia Sawer
Accra, Nov. 09, GNA – The Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) has taken steps to reorganise and revive itself to continue to serve as a mother of all associations, unions, and clubs within the agricultural sector of Ghana.
Mr Bismark Doku Nettey, one of the founding members revealing this at GNAFF’s 32nd anniversary press conference in Accra, said the association, which would turn 32 years on November 11, had four of its founding members still alive, namely, Mr Joseph Kwesi Odyeyem, Mr Emmanuel Tetteh Danyo, Mr Emmanuel Obey and himself.
Mr Nettey said the move to reorganise was based on the relevant provisions in the GNAFF constitution and bylaws, adding that the elected National Executive Committee members whose tenure of office had expired, had set up a planning committee to prepare the association for the elections of district, regional, and national officers.
He said they had also appointed Mr Francis Opai Tetteh, the Country Director for the World Conference of Mayors, Ghana, as its consultant to work in collaboration with the planning committee to reorganise, rebuild, reposition, and enhance the attractiveness of the association.
He said Mr Tetteh, who had an academic background in agriculture, had the capacity to help turn the fortunes of the Association around, and urged the members to work closely with him.
Mr Nettey stated that the GNAFF was purposed to rekindle the hope and aspirations of farmers, fishermen, and all stakeholders in the agricultural sector in Ghana once again.
The Association had played its important role since November 1992, but as years went by, it encountered some hard-hitting leadership, accountability, and organisational challenges that eroded its gains and reduced their growth rate drastically, therefore the need to reorganise, he said.
He cautioned some of the GNAFF’s former appointees and elected officers who were illegally receiving official correspondence of the association and using its hard-earned name and reputation for personal gains, to desist from the act.
“We will not hesitate to seek legal redress if these reckless acts continue. Certainly, with your undivided support, GNAFF shall rise again to serve our valued farmers,” he stressed.
The GNAFF commended all fishermen, farmers, and stakeholders for their contributions to the country’s food security and the economy, while congratulating all who received awards at the 40th National Farmers Day celebration across the country.
GNA