Amartey Kope: Rice farmers at Amartey Kope, a farming community near Akuse in the Eastern Region, have acknowledged the government’s continuous support for their trade but are calling for a more direct and transparent delivery of that support, devoid of political interference.
According to Ghana News Agency, the farmers expressed their concerns during a visit by officials from the AritaGlobe Foundation. The foundation was in the community to assess the impact of climate change on farming as part of its ongoing Green Dialogue Series Project. A statement issued by Ms. Princess Arita Anim, the Executive Director of AritaGlobe Foundation, highlighted these issues.
The statement noted that while the government had introduced several commendable initiatives to support agriculture, the challenge had always been getting the assistance into the right hands. Mr. Jones Akpaglo, a local rice farmer, emphasized the need for government subsidies to reach the intended beneficiaries. “Government needs to channel the resources through the right people so that those peasant farmers can get it,” Akpaglo stated.
He further highlighted the issue of political interference, which often prevents beneficial initiatives from reaching those who need them most. “We need to target those that truly need the assistance to let the intended purpose of those funds be realized,” he stressed.
The statement also described the high cost of rice production and the increasing risk climate change poses to their investments. Akpaglo lamented the capital-intensive nature of rice farming, stating, “Imagine investing GHS 20,000 and at the end you get nothing. What happened to you? How are you going to take care of the family?”
According to the statement, the AritaGlobe Foundation’s visit to Amartey Kope was part of a broader effort to gather firsthand accounts from farmers affected by climate change. The insights gathered will contribute to a national report and documentary aimed at influencing policy and improving climate adaptation strategies for farmers across Ghana.
“For the farmers in Amartey Kope, the message is clear: government support is appreciated, but it must reach the grassroots directly, fairly, and without political roadblocks,” Ms. Anim concluded.
