The Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has highlighted Ghana’s advancements in food security, attributing this achievement to the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.
According to him, Ghana now ranks the third most food-secured nation in Africa, following South Africa and Kenya. This ranking, he explained, underscores the significant strides made in agriculture across the country.
Speaking at a community engagement in Ejura on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Dr. Bawumia emphasized the impact of this agricultural initiative on cocoa farming, a vital sector of Ghana’s economy. He noted that many cocoa farms had been affected by the swollen shoot disease, necessitating the removal and replanting of infected trees.
He said government replaced these trees, alongside planting plantains to aid the regrowth process.
In a move aimed at supporting farmers, Dr. Bawumia said the government had also raised the cocoa price per bag from GHS 475.00 to GHS 3,100.00, significantly boosting the income of cocoa farmers and further supporting the agriculture sector’s growth.