As part of measures to discontinue the almost constant reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial support, the former Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, has recommended that the country should utilise its natural resources and pay attention to agriculture.
He mentioned that investments in the sector would give rise to giant industries that could make the country self-sufficient and reliant. The Chronicle sides with the submission of the former Speaker of Parliament because the emergence of industries would lead to the creation of direct and indirect jobs, as well as boost the economic fortunes of the country.
Ghana’s dealing with the IMF and its associated unfavourable conditions since independence has been one of the major topics for discussion by stakeholders over the years, without any concrete resolution. Today, we are at the IMF for the 18th time and just as the former Speaker of Parliament has envisaged, The Chronicle is of the opinion that we may continue to turn to the IMF, unless we make good use of the resources of the soil, naturally given to us by God.
As a country, we have always known that one of the critical areas in our lives is to make agriculture attractive to the youth of the country, to enhance the economy and transform lives of the people. There are countries like India that saw the benefits of agriculture and took advantage of it, enabling them to produce enough food to feed their citizens and other nationals.
Today, India is not concerned about the war in Russia and Ukraine because it does not depend on the two countries for food. Ghana, however, is seriously affected by the war due to its reliance on the two countries for food, despite the vast arable lands it possesses.
The Chronicle, therefore, calls on the government to pay critical attention to the efforts of the University of Ghana, through Akuafo Hall, in fostering the interest of the youth in agriculture and to build on that momentum. Indeed, if farmers in the country can sustain us so that we can have food in abundance and not import over-stored food, then Ghana will not catch cold when Russia and Ukraine sneezes.
It is refreshing to know that the University of Ghana is ready to host a Farmers’ Center of Excellence to spearhead the monitoring of students who would show interest in making farming a business. That initiative by the university should be commended by all and must be supported by stakeholders in enhancing agriculture.
The Chronicle believes that we have had enough lip service on turning the economy of the country around through enhanced agriculture; it is now time for action. As political parties hit the road with their manifestos to win the mandate of the people in the next general elections, The Chronicle would like to call on the electorate to carefully scrutinise which of the parties has the best and workable policies on agriculture development and how to sustain these policies.
It is possible to run our economy without IMF support but one sure way of realising that possibility is to turn round agriculture productivity in the country.
