The Ministry of Food and Agricultural has denied receiving monies from the Finance Ministry to settle debts owed to Fertilizer Suppliers under Government flagship Program, Planting for Food and Job.
A close source from the ministry told Despite Media's Sampson Kwame Nyamekye that no funds has been received from the Finance Ministry and they are looking forward to receiving such an amount since the pressure from the contractors is too much.
The failure of the government to pay fertilizer suppliers has made the majority of these contractors face bankruptcy forcing their banks to chase them for their monies.
The Minister, on the floor of Parliament, when asked about the issue of Financial Clearance to MOFA to clear the large debt owed partners and suppliers, revealed that his ministry has released money to clear outstanding debts
“Mr. Speaker at the end of 2021 an amount of GHC 86.31 million was outstanding, under PFJ Programme. This amount has now been released to MOFA for payment. This year, MOFA has requested an amount of GHC 485.90 million for payment under PFJ programme. An amount of GHC 278.57 million has subsequently been released to MOFA,” Hon Ken Ofori–Atta has added.
According to one of these contractors, he said the Minister for Finance is trying every means to cover the debts by creating pressure between the implementing Ministry and the contractors.
“We are very sure MOFA would have attended to us if the Finance Ministry had paid the money like the sector Minister claimed,” he added.
Suppliers said, their respective Banks have been chasing them after the Minister’s presentation on the floor of Parliament because these banks think; they (Suppliers) have diverted the payment to different accounts.
Despite Media Sampson Kwame Nyamekye in an earlier report last month interviewed a number of Fertilizer suppliers who confirmed that government still owes them with monies after supplying farmers under PFJ with fertilizers.
Peasant farmers had also in a separate story expressed worry over how the scarcity of fertilizers has been affecting their farming businesses since suppliers are reluctant to supply them with fertilizers.
Planting for Food and Jobs is a flagship agricultural Campaign of the Government, with five (5) implementation modules. The first module PFJ (Crops) aims to promote food security and immediate availability of selected food crops on the market and also provide jobs.
Source: Sampson Nyamekye/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Gradually, it shall be well, these are global issues with regards to financial clearance. Good evening to the agric minister.
Josh is a ***barred word*** Ghanaian who doesn’t know his left and right.. That’s his lifestyle. People who knows him will confirm. Don’t ever take Josh serious.
Dr. Akoto is a descent minister and will act accordingly if only the amount has been released. It has not been released that’s why contractors have not been paid. The minister of finance made such comment maybe due to mistakes.. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has not received any fund..
1. THIS AGRIC MINISTER IS NOT SERIOUS GHANA HAVE BEEN IMPORTING DEAD CHLORINEJUICED CHICKEN SERIOUS HEALTH RISK, IMPORT WHEAT, RICE. FOR MANY YEARS. COMMERCIAL IRRRIGATED FARMING IS THE SOLUTION TO OUR PROBLEMS OF SHORTAGES IF CHINA DOES COMMERCIAL FARMING TO FEED 1.4 BILLION POPULATION AND HAVE FOOD SECURITY TO FEED THEIR POPULATION FOR ONE YEAR WITHOUT IMPORTS.STOP THE ***barred word*** OF PEASANT FARMING TODAY CHINA BOOST OF SUFFICIENT GRAINS STORAGE FOR ONE YEAR TO FEED 1.4 BILLION OF THEIR POPULATION WITHOUT SCRAMBLING TO IMPORT AND GHANA CANNOT EVEN FEED 30 MILLION WHY BECAUSE CHINA DOES COMMERCIAL IRRIGATED FARMING EVEN FLOADING SOME OF THEIR LANDS THAT HAVE TOO MUCH ALKALINE WITH SEA WATER TO ENABLE THEM TO PLANT ON IT. JUST GOOGLE THEY HAVE ALL THAT ON YUTUBE TO WATCH WHY GHANA WITH ***barred word*** AGRIC MINISTER WASTING TIME AND MONEY ON PEASANT FARMING WHICH ANY SERIOUS COUNTRY WILL NOT IF THEY WANT TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT IN RICE MAIZE, WHEAT, CASHEWS, COPEAS, SUNFLOWER OIL AND ALL OTHER STAPLES. ONLY LAZY PEOPLE WORLD DOES THAT AND THAT SHOW UP IN OUR INFLATION YEAR TO YEAR.THIS AGRIC MINISTER IS ***barred word*** USE LOCAL ORGANIC FERTILIZERS SINCE CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS CAUSES SERIOUS PROBLEMS IN OUR FOOD CHAINS AND IN HUMAN BODY.