Strategic investment in rice farming could secure 294,000 jobs, says Awuah Darko
He underscored that investment in agriculture, particularly rice farming, could reduce Ghana’s dependency on imports
Kwame Awuah-Darko, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called for a shift in Ghana’s economic priorities, arguing that the GHS2.5 billion spent on the Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) could have been better invested in agriculture to create sustainable jobs.
Speaking on Kumasi-based Abusua FM on Tuesday (26 November), Mr Awuah-Darko explained that the funds used to pay monthly allowances of GHS700 to 100,000 NABCO trainees over three years could have financed a transformative rice production initiative.
He estimated that channelling this amount into agriculture could have developed 42,000 acres of rice farms, creating approximately 294,000 sustainable jobs.
“Rice production alone using the amount of money spent on Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) trainees would have started a 42,000-acre rice farm. If this had been implemented from the start, there would have been more than 200,000 sustainable jobs. The same amount invested in rice production would have provided these young chaps with 294,000 sustainable jobs,” he stated.
Agric for jobs
Mr. Awuah-Darko emphasized the NDC’s commitment to prioritizing the productive side of the economy, contrasting this with what he described as the wasteful expenditure of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He underscored that investment in agriculture, particularly rice farming, could reduce Ghana’s dependency on imports, boost food security, and address unemployment.
As part of the NDC’s 2024 manifesto, the party plans to scale up irrigation schemes in rice-producing regions such as the Northern, Volta, and Ashanti regions.
“Investments in modern farming equipment and technologies will improve productivity and efficiency, allowing farmers to cultivate rice on a larger scale. Affordable loans and subsidies for inputs like seeds and fertilizers will enable smallholder farmers to expand operations. Establishing rice mills and packaging facilities will ensure that locally produced rice meets international standards, boosting domestic sales and exports,” he explained.
24-hour economy
The NDC also plans to complement its agricultural investment with a 24-hour economy initiative to maximize productivity across sectors.
This includes extending processing and manufacturing operations for agricultural produce, establishing logistics hubs for nationwide distribution, creating night markets to minimize post-harvest losses, and enhancing rural electrification to support agro-industrial activities.
“The 24-hour economy initiative ensures that agriculture doesn’t end with farming. It creates room for processing, packaging, and marketing to operate without downtime, creating jobs throughout the supply chain,” Mr. Awuah-Darko added.
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi
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