Edward Kareweh, the former General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), has called on Eric Opoku, the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture-designate, to engage key stakeholders, prioritize the effective implementation of agricultural policies, and ensure accountability in government subsidies.
In an interview on an Accra-based radio station, Mr. Kareweh highlighted the challenges facing the agricultural sector, stressing the need for a tailored approach to address the diverse needs of farmers.
“The agricultural sector is very diverse, and the needs of farmers vary significantly,” Mr. Kareweh said.
“The requirements of rice farmers, for example, are different from those of maize farmers. The minister must first build consensus with stakeholders and understand their concerns.”
While acknowledging the new minister’s expertise, Edward Kareweh cautioned against overconfidence. He warned that making unilateral decisions could alienate important stakeholders and impede progress in the sector.
One of Kareweh's main concerns was the distribution of government subsidies, particularly fertilizers. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that these resources reach their intended beneficiaries—farmers—and that they are used effectively.
“Sometimes, farmers misuse the assistance, such as selling part of their fertilizers, which ultimately affects their output. We need to ensure proper monitoring to avoid such issues,” he explained.
Mr. Kareweh also pointed out the difficulties in executing agricultural policies at the grassroots level, noting that past programs like the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative had shown promise but faced challenges in implementation. While he commended the initiative as a good policy, he lamented its limited impact.
“As a country, we’re good at creating broad policies, but the real challenge lies in implementing them at the grassroots level,” Kareweh said.
“The new minister must ensure that we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past and work towards truly fulfilling the government’s agricultural policies.”
Edward Kareweh’s remarks underline the importance of a comprehensive, inclusive approach to agriculture in Ghana, with an emphasis on collaboration, proper monitoring, and efficient policy execution.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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