Samuel Huntor, the Media Liaison Officer for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, has strongly refuted assertions that the government’s Feed Ghana initiative is merely a rebranded version of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme implemented by the previous administration.
Addressing the comparison, he argued that while the previous government failed to see its initiatives through, the current administration has made significant developmental strides through the Feed Ghana policy.
He acknowledged that the Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration had touted Planting for Food and Jobs as a flagship agricultural campaign designed to modernise the sector, ensure food security, reduce imports, and create employment.
That programme was intended to provide subsidised seeds and fertilisers to increase crop yields, eventually transitioning into a Phase II input-credit system to support farmers.
However, Mr Huntor maintained that the previous government failed in its execution.
He noted that despite the high-profile nature of the previous administration’s efforts, Ghana faced a serious crisis and was forced to seek food assistance from other countries.
He further claimed that food importation rose significantly under the previous leadership while the cost of living skyrocketed.
Appearing on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the Liaison Officer stated that under the previous government, fertilisers worth $12 million were left to rot because cocoa farmers could not afford them, even at a subsidised rate.
He recalled that President John Dramani Mahama eventually ordered the Ministry of Agriculture to provide free fertilisers to all farmers in response to the crisis.
Mr Huntor expressed confidence in the current leadership, asserting that the sector minister, Dr Eric Opoku, and his deputy minister, John Dumelo, have performed exceptionally well in transforming the agricultural landscape.
He urged the public to ignore the propaganda and misinformation being spread by the opposition, noting that Dr Opoku inherited a troubled ministry but has worked tirelessly to resolve its foundational issues.
He concluded by emphasising the efficacy of the current policy, stating: “We have used Feed Ghana in dealing with the problems that the NPP could not solve.”
The Feed Ghana Programme (FGP) is a four-year (2025–2028) national agricultural initiative designed to bolster food security, reduce the $2 billion annual food import bill, and create jobs by empowering local farmers and modernising agribusiness.
The programme focuses on promoting key crops (rice, maize, oil palm, cashew) and poultry revitalisation.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
