Immediate past chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Dr. kwadwo Afari Gyan, has been awarded “Best District Fish Farmerâ€for Greater Accra in the just ended 32nd National Farmers' Day celebration under the theme: 'Agriculture: A Business Response to Economic Growth.'
To some people, Dr. kwadwo Afari Gyan’s award was expected because on several occasions as the Chairperson of the Electoral commission, Dr. kwadwo Afari Gyan has made known that the next phase he will work as a means to still serve Ghanaians after his retirement will be the Agric sector specifically fish farming.
A 42-year old farmer from Ejumako Enyan Essiem in the Central region, Robert Crentsil, has been declared the 2016 National Best Farmer.
Mr. Crentsil who has been a farmer for nearly 20 years boasts of 120acres of cocoa, 80acres of rubber, 60acres of plantain, 60acres of cowpea, 30acres of cassava, 7acres of oil palm, 6acres of coconut, 15acres of citrus farms among others.
Robert Crentsil he will receive a fully furnished three-bedroom house to be constructed for him in any part of the country he prefers.
Speaking at the 32nd National Best Farmers' Day celebration in the Brong Ahafo region, President John Mahama said “I stand on behalf of a grateful nation to salute all farmers and fishers of Ghana.â€
president Mahama added that, “Ghana has tremendous wealth of natural resources and that by leveraging modern technology, the insight gained from research and with significant investment in service, Ghana is well on track to achieving a green revolutionâ€
In his address, President Mahama stated categorically that “The impression created in the media is false. Let me state for a fact that the agricultural sector is not in decline. A sector that is growing at 2.5 per cent cannot be said to be in decline. The statistics can be crosschecked at the [Ghana] Statistical Service. The fact that Agric’s contribution to the GDP is not what it used to be in the past, does not mean that it is declining; it simply means that other sectors of the economy are also doing well, which is good for the economy and normal for every developing and developed countryâ€.
He also used the occasion to dispute claims that the agricultural sector under his tenure has fallen.
“I need to put to rest a misperception that is constantly being bandied in the media to misinform the public that the agricultural sector is in decline. This is absolutely false. The agricultural sector is not in decline. The agricultural sector is experiencing very healthy growth,†Mahama re-joined