900 water pump devices that were taken from Galamsey sites have been sent to nine different parts of the nation by Hon. Eric Opoku (MP), Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
The following regions are among the beneficiaries: Savannah, Northern, North East, Oti, Greater Accra, Volta, Bono East, Upper East, Upper West, and Savannah.
The donation, which is a component of the Feed Ghana initiative, is anticipated to increase food production across the country and support irrigated farming, especially during the dry season.
During operations against illegal mining, a task force seized the equipment, which Hon. Opoku presented at the Agricultural Engineering Service Directorate Office in Amrahia, Accra. After a court decision, the Ministry received the machines for use in agriculture.
The Minister claims that the distribution’s beneficiary districts were chosen with care to prevent the machines from being redirected into illicit mining operations.
“We wanted to avoid a situation where these machines, after being distributed, end up at galamsey sites again. That is why we deliberately chose regions without active illegal mining operations,” Mr. Opoku clarified.
He also mentioned that 100 machines were being delivered to each region, for a total of 900 machines.
According to him, the regional ministers and directors of agriculture will oversee the distribution of the machines to farmer cooperatives, guaranteeing fairness and transparency. The Minister claims that the distribution’s beneficiary districts were chosen with care to prevent the machines from being redirected into illicit mining operations.
“We wanted to avoid a situation where these machines, after being distributed, end up at galamsey sites again. That is why we deliberately chose regions without active illegal mining operations,” Mr. Opoku clarified.
He also mentioned that 100 machines were being delivered to each region, for a total of 900 machines.
According to him, the regional ministers and directors of agriculture will oversee the distribution of the machines to farmer cooperatives, guaranteeing fairness and transparency.
“Technical experts from the Ministry have inspected the equipment and confirmed that they were free from mining chemicals and safe for farm use,” The Minister assured.
He added that creating resilient food systems, lowering post-harvest losses, and making sure “every Ghanaian is fed” were all part of the government’s larger aim.
In order to achieve food security, he said, irrigation infrastructure was essential, especially during the dry season.
Hon. Ali Adolf John, the Northern Regional Minister, spoke on behalf of the recipient regions and thanked the Ministry for the assistance. He also promised that the equipment would only be utilized for agricultural reasons.
“As regional ministers, we will work closely with our regional and district directors of agriculture to monitor the use of these machines.”
“They will be made available to cooperatives and farmers, particularly those farming along riverbanks, so that irrigation can continue even in the dry season,” he said.
Hon. Ali emphasized that the government would not permit the equipment to return to Galamsey operations and that it was still committed to combating unlawful mining.
He emphasized that the distribution of the seized equipment is a critical step in transforming the battle against illicit mining into a chance to boost domestic food production and guarantee that resources that were previously utilized to harm the environment are now used to feed the country.
Source: newsthemegh.com