The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to intervene on their behalf for government to implement the reversal of the Benchmark Discount Values.
The benchmark value discounts were first introduced to hedge against price hikes.
Earlier this year, the government moved to suspend the discount values to shore up revenue, but agitations, mainly by members of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), compelled the government to suspend the plan to implement the reversal of the discount values.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) issued a statement on January 13, 2022, citing a directive from the Office of the President for the indefinite suspension of the implementation of the reversal of the benchmark value discount policy.
The suspension is to allow greater consultation to take place.
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However, just like the Ghana Association of Industries (AGI), the PFAG wants the reversal implemented.
The farmers say the decision by the government to stop the Benchmark Discount Value was seriously hindering the growth of the local industry.
The Executive Director for PFAG, Dr Kwowe Nyaaba appealed to Ashanti King when he led a delegation to the Otumfuo palace in Kumasi.
The delegation also wanted the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to grace PFAG’s 2022 Annual General Meeting scheduled for March 25 at the TUC Conference Hall.
Otumfuo urged the PFAG to engage with the government to find solutions to their concerns.
The Ashanti King also underscored the need for a deliberate policy to regulate farming and its related activities because farmers are great contributors to Ghana’s growth.