By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Tamale, April 27, GNA – The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has held its Annual General Meeting and 20th anniversary celebrations to reflect on its activities over the year and chart a new way forward.
The three-day event, which ended in Tamale, and attended by farmers from across the country, was also to elect new executives of PFAG to steer its affairs for the next four years.
It was on the theme: “From Advocacy to Action: Consolidating 20 Years of Farmers’ Voices to Shape Ghana’s Agricultural Future.”
Ya-Na Abukari II, Overlord of Dagbon Traditional Area, whose speech was read on his behalf during the event by Mion-Lana Naa Alhassan Mahama, Chief of Mion, lauded PFAG for its work over the years describing it as a strong advocate that had helped shape agricultural policy and amplified farmers’ voices.
He mentioned climate change, limited access to financing, poor infrastructure, inadequate storage system, and unstable markets as some of the challenges facing farmers in the country.
He commended government for its interventions in the agricultural sector and called for effective implementation of policies to ensure real benefits reached farmers at the grassroots level.
Mr Douglas Annor, newly elected President of PFAG, in his acceptance speech, expressed gratitude to members, partners and government for their continued support for PFAG.
Founded in 2005, PFAG has grown into a strong voice for smallholder farmers championing policies and initiatives that promote inclusive agricultural development.
Mr Annor pledged committed leadership and reaffirmed PFAG’s dedication to advancing farmers’ welfare.
He said PFAG members were determined to boost agricultural production and enhance national food security through advocacy, capacity building, and agribusiness initiatives.
He touched on some challenges facing the agricultural sector such as high input costs, climate change impact, lack of irrigation facilities, post-harvest losses and market gluts that left farmers unable to sell their produce or repay loans.
He called for increased government support including funding for farmer-led aggregation, expanded access to inputs such as fertilizers and improved seeds, irrigation development, and better implementation of initiatives such as the Feed Ghana Programme.
Mr Annor raised concerns about the fallen cocoa prices, delayed payments to cocoa farmers and the effects of illegal mining (galamsey) on farmlands and water bodies.
He commended past leaders of PFAG for their efforts to reposition the Association and called for unity amongst farmer groups and decisive action to improve livelihoods and safeguard the agricultural sector.
Mr Eric Opoku, Minister for Food and Agriculture, commended PFAG for becoming a formidable organization representing over one million smallholder farmers.
Mr Opoku congratulated the newly elected executives and emphasized that it was time to move beyond advocacy to tangible action in transforming the country’s agriculture.
He outlined key challenges the government inherited in 2025 including high input costs, weak irrigation and mechanisation systems, limited market access, and heavy reliance on food imports.
He said to address the challenges, the government launched the Feed Ghana Programme to boost production, reduce food prices, strengthen agricultural value chains, and cut down imports.
He said efforts were also ongoing to rehabilitate and expand irrigation infrastructure including restoring existing systems, constructing new dams and introducing solar-powered boreholes, especially in the northern part of the country to promote all year-round farming.
He gave assurance of government’s commitment to partnering farmers to modernize agriculture, improve productivity, and secure the future of the country’s food systems.
Meanwhile, PFAG presented a citation of honour to Mr Opoku commending him for demonstrating leadership, courage, conviction, and initiating interventions to better the lots of farmers and supporting PFAG.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Linda Asante Agyei