The 39th farmers’ day celebration was held at Opah M/A School Park on the 1st December, 2023 with the theme, ‘Delivering smart solutions for sustainable food security’. The programme was graced by several dignitaries including the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon Clement Wilkinson, the Municipal Director of Agriculture, Angelina Owusu Ansah, Nii Ayii Tettey Okwansuro I who served as the Chairman for the programme,, Naa Chenku Dede II of Opah Traditional Council, and Assembly Members, and some Assembly Staff.

The Municipal Director for Agriculture, Angelina Owusu Ansah welcomed everyone to the programme. He thanked all farmers for their hard work despite the challenges they faced this year such as the increase in the cost of production and food seeds, sale of lands and sand winning without farmers receiving compensation and many more. She encouraged the farmers to dedicate themselves to good agricultural practices as the assembly aims to keep working on delivering smart solutions for sustainable food security.

The Municipal Chief Executive urged farmers within the Municipality to venture into value addition to increase revenue. Speaking on the theme, ‘Delivering smart solutions for sustainable food security’, Hon. Wilkinson stated that if Ghana is to maximize the benefit within the Agricultural Sector, then it is imperative to scale up investment in that sector, especially in the areas of development of irrigation processing, value addition and storage. He assured the farmers that, the Government and the assembly will continue to massively invest in the development of the Agricultural Sector to ensure increased productivity, thereby increasing food security and higher levels of income for farmers and all stakeholders in the value chain.

He further stated that the Municipality has benefitted from several programs initiated by the Government under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Some of the programs include; Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), Planting for Export and Rural Development, and Fall Army Worm (FAW) eradication.

The MCE concluded his submission mentioning the effect of the Russia-Ukraine war, which has negatively affected the importation of food and fertilizer into our country. He said the Government is putting strategies in place to prevent food crisis. He also stated that the assembly is still keen on the campaign to promote backyard farming and encouraged not just the farmers but the audience in attendance as well to begin their own to be able to provide for themselves in some capacity.    

Nii Ayii Tettey Okwansuro I, Chief of Opah Traditional Area who chaired the occasion also advised farmers to take advantage of the programs and initiatives by the Government and the Assembly to add value to their produce to increase revenue.

The Municipal Chief Executive together with the Municipal Director for Agriculture and the Chairman conferred the Municipal Overall Best Farmer Award on Francis Kortey Afutu of  Seven Kohans Farms for his dedication and hardwork over the years. He was awarded the overall best farmer due to his incorporation of modern technology into farming and the use of good agricultural practices. He was awarded a refrigerator, Knapsack sprayers, fertilizers, and other farming equipment. Mr. Christopher Kwabena Adams (Chief Farmer of the Year), Maxwell Owusu Boateng (Best Livestock Farmer), Mr. Emmanuel Doku (Asaase Queen Project) and Mr. Prince Tamakloe (Best Physically Challenged Farmer) were also awardees during the occasion. These farmers were awarded with certificates and items like refrigerators, Knapsack sprayers, machetes, wellington boots, Television set, bicycles and other farming equipment. The awardees said they were honored to be chosen among the many farmers and were even encouraged to work harder. The Best Physically Challenged Farmer encouraged any other individuals who might probably be in his situation that ‘’disability is not inability’’.

The program concluded successfully with a vote of thanks from by Harriet Asantewaa Opoku a staff of the Assembly who expressed gratitude to the Almighty God. She thanked everyone present, especially the farmers whose unwavering efforts provided the people with enough food throughout the year. She also commended the organizing committee too for executing the program well. She urged all stakeholders to support our farmers, recognize their efforts and work together towards discovering smart solutions that could help maintain food security