National Best Farmer for 2024 at the awards dinner held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra last Friday.
He received an amount of GH¢1million sponsored by the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) as his prize.
Similarly, Nassam Fuseini from the Yendi Municipality in the Northern Region and Ransford Kwaku Otopa Atiemo from Ayensuano District in the Eastern Region were also adjudged the first and second runner-ups in the overall National Best Farmer category respectively.
For their prizes, they received a tractor, trailer, disc plough and a boom sprayer sponsored by Ghana Exim Bank and the Stanbic Bank respectively.
Also Ernestina Osei Tutu from the Akwapim North Municipality in the Eastern Region was adjudged the National Best Female Farmer.
She received a cash prize of GH¢200,000 sponsored by the government and a standard tractor with accessories provided by the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
Ms Tutu would also undergo a capacity building training and a study tour of the country together with 29 regional and district female award winners as part of the prize.
In the other categories, Mr Stephen Addo from the Sene West District in the Bono East Region who received a cash prize of GH¢200,000 sponsored by the government was adjudged the National Best Physically Challenged Farmer.
The National Best Overall Fisher was given to Wiebukanga Mensah of Wa West, Upper West Region while that of the National Best Fish Farmer went to Ebenezer Dzikunu Nyagble of Afadjato South in the Volta Region.
Others awardees were National Best Fish Processor – Victoria Atsa, East Gonja in the Savannah Region; National Best Most Outstanding Fisheries Enforcement went to Nettesheim Kwame Damoah from Cape Coast in the Central Region and the National Best Most Outstanding Personality for Sustainable Development and Artisanal Fisheries went to Nana Jojo Solomon of Elmina in the Central Region.
Each of them will take home a double cabin KIA truck sponsored by the government, however, Mr Christopher Ackon of Komenda in the Central Region took the National Best Marine Fisher Award.
The awards dinner, the second of its kind and a major departure from the old format of the farmers’ day celebration also saw regional awards presented to the best farmers.
Mr Naba John Tia from the Talensi District took the overall award for the Upper East Region, while Alhaji Jibiliru Nankpa of Sissala East had the Overall Best Farmer for the Upper West Region.
The others were Mr Imoro Sulley from West Mamprusi for the North East Region; Patience Nkara Kpiniong of Central Gonja for the Savannah Region; Alhaji Alhassan Yussif Mozeli of the Northern Regional capital, Tamale, winning for the region, with Alhaji Amidu Ibrahim Barye of Sunyani West picking the award for the Bono Region.
Mr Oduro Abrefa from Techiman North for the Bono East Region; Kwesi Appiagyei Emmanuel of Tano South for the Ahafo Region; Wisdom Aglago of North Tongu for the Volta Region; Bitolib Benson Donkor of Nkwanta North for the Oti Region; Yakuba Mohammed Massa of Bia East for the Western North Region; Olivia Agyeiwaa of Asante Akim North for the Ashanti Region, and Nasir Nyameke of Jomoro winning for the Western Region.
The rest are Dr Samuel Hodor Mensah of Upper West Akim picking up the top award for the Eastern Region; Faustina Asamoah of Assin South for the Central Region, with Doris Afloe of Ada West, topping the list for the Greater Accra Region.
Addressing the awardees, President Akufo-Addo who was the special guest of honour said his government had taken substantial steps to support and empower farmers and fishermen in the country.
He said all the steps which had been taken over the period were geared towards transforming the country’s agriculture into a dynamic, resilient and productive sector that could withstand modern challenges, particularly the threats posed by climate change.
President Akufo-Addo congratulated the awardees for their dedication and commitment to feeding the nation and expressed gratitude to all farmers for serving as the backbone of the country.
Nana Owusu Achiaw on his part said the theme for this year’s celebration “Building climate resilient agriculture for food security” resonated well with current conditions across the globe of which Ghana was not an exception.
“The current changes in climate coupled with human activities pose a serious threat to our food security in this country,” he emphasised.
He therefore called on all stakeholders to come together to find lasting solutions to the land degradation across the country which invariably affected food production and quality.
BY CLIFF EKUFUL
