Kingsley Agyemang (second right) with Patrick Ankobiah
President Akufo-Addo has begun the process of
fulfilling his promise to award educational scholarship schemes to children of
farmers and fisher folks to pursue tertiary education.
The President announced a total of 24 scholarships for children of
the 2018 National Best Farmer Award winners for tertiary programmes.
The initiative forms part of government’s plans to make agriculture
attractive to all Ghanaians, especially young people.
On Friday, the Scholarship Secretariat, in collaboration with the
Ministry of Food and Agriculture, held a stakeholder consultation in Kumasi in
fulfillment of the President’s promise.
Registrar of the Scholarship Secretariat, Kinsley Agyemang, said the
move forms part of President Akufo-Addo government’s efforts to build the
capacity of farmers and boost agriculture production using best practices in
the agriculture value chain.
He stated that “as I speak now, the good news is that our budgetary
allocation in respect of the realization of this important agenda, which was
not just a political mantra, has been approved by the Ministry of Finance.”
Mr. Agyemang said the consultative forum is to support the
implementation plan to give meaning to the pronouncement by the President.
He pointed out that the scholarship package is not based on
academics of the potential beneficiaries.
“The people that bring about the value should be well educated,” he said.
He added that the scholarship is tailored-made for the wards and
dependents of farmers and fishers.
Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Robert
Patrick Ankobiah, stated that for the nation to reap the full benefit of
agriculture, innovative ideas are needed.
“The introduction of scholarship awards for wards of farmers is
innovative just like ‘Planting for Food and Job,’ and now ‘Planting for Export’
to transform the agriculture sector.
“The ministry is toping this up with a new programme dubbed, ‘Rearing
for Food and Jobs.’ This time, we are shifting to livestock,” he disclosed.
According to the MoFA Chief Director, these programmes and many
others initiated by the government underscore the present administration’s
commitment to transforming agriculture.
The 2018 National Best Farmer, James Boateng, praised government for
the scholarship scheme, describing it as fantastic initiative.
“Even as farmers, we are now aware education drives everything in life, more so in agriculture from enhancing your productivity to looking for market.”
From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi
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