Tamale: Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has held an inception workshop to engage its members and key stakeholders on the implementation of the Strengthening Farmers' Voices to Promote Accountability and Inclusive Decision-Making in Ghana project. The workshop, held in Tamale, was to sensitise stakeholders on the project's scope and activities, and to solicit stakeholders' input for successful implementation.
According to Ghana News Agency, participants included representatives from Regional Departments of Agriculture, smallholder farmers, women farmers, and persons living with disabilities (PwDs) drawn from the Northern, North East, Upper West, Bono East, and Oti Regions. The Strengthening Farmers' Voices to Promote Accountability and Inclusive Decision-Making in Ghana project is an 18-month-long initiative being implemented by PFAG with funding from STAR Ghana Foundation. It seeks to empower vulnerable groups, especially smallholder farmers, women, youth, and PwDs, to enable them to participate effectively in local decision-making processes and demand accountability from local authorities.
The project also aims to strengthen accountability mechanisms and ensure effective implementation of policies that benefit smallholder farmers across the country. Mr. Bismark Owusu Nortey, Acting Executive Director of PFAG, speaking during the workshop, said it was to share the project's details, gather feedback, and secure the buy-in and commitment of stakeholders to ensure its successful implementation. He was optimistic about the project's impact, indicating that with enhanced technical capacity at the local level and better-structured groups, members' activities will remain relevant even after the project ends.
He added that at the national level, PFAG would integrate the project's outcomes into its ongoing advocacy efforts and institutionalize annual monitoring of major government interventions beyond the project's duration. Mr. Ewuntomah Sumaila Abudu, Chief Director, Northern Regional Coordinating Council, reiterated the government's commitment to participatory governance and transparency in agricultural development. He stated that empowering farmers to engage with institutions and policy processes not only strengthens accountability but also builds trust in the system.
Hajia Hawa Musah, Director, Northern Regional Department of Agriculture, whose speech was read on her behalf, commended PFAG and its partners for the initiative and pledged the Department's support for its implementation. During discussions, participants highlighted the need for continued capacity building for farmers, cooperative purchasing of inputs to reduce input costs, and better access to markets.
