Accra: Dr Bryan Acheampong has once again proven his worth in Ghanaian politics by clearing the air on the fertiliser distribution during his tenure as the Minister of Food and Agriculture. Addressing recent misinformation about fertiliser distribution during the 2024 elections, the former Minister made it clear that integrity guided every decision under his watch.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Acheampong explained during his regional campaign tour that when he took over as Minister, Ghana was facing several challenges in the agriculture sector. He emphasized that during one of the most severe droughts in recent years, a national relief programme was launched to support farmers affected by the drought. This initiative was not intended to campaign or politicise fertiliser distribution. He stressed that every bag, seed, and allocation was data-driven and executed through official Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) systems.
The intervention, executed under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) 2.0 framework, supported over 225 districts and distributed more than 2.1 million bags of fertiliser nationwide. Dr. Acheampong highlighted that MOFA's database of verified, registered farmers ensured that only those genuinely affected by the drought received assistance.
Dr. Acheampong clarified that while some deliveries coincided with the election period, this was due to normal procurement delays, not political motivations. He stated that the mission was simple: to save farmers' livelihoods. The programme had to continue until the government's last day in office.
He also addressed the recent circulation of two letters dated November 27, explaining that they had been deliberately misrepresented. Those letters were written to address logistical challenges on the ground, not to initiate new distributions. Some Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) had complained about a lack of funds for field operations, prompting MOFA to provide coordination support.
In fact, fertiliser distribution had already commenced several weeks after MOFA, in collaboration with the World Bank, secured supplier cooperation to release stock, ensuring timely support for farmers. Under his leadership, PFJ 2.0 also pioneered a zero-interest input credit system, ending instances of subsidy abuse and smuggling, and making every input traceable and transparent.
Eric Twum, spokesperson for the campaign, stated that the facts speak for themselves. He praised Bryan Acheampong for building systems that serve people, not politics, and noted that his commitment to accountability is why propaganda against him does not stick.
