GHC3b on Planting for Food and Jobs is waste of money – GAWU General Secretary

The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has accused government of ‘wasting financial resources’ under the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme.

In the mid-year budget presented to Parliament on July 23, government has spent nearly GHC3 billion under the policy, but GAWU officials say the policy should be audited before the second phase is rolled out.

General Secretary of GAWU, Edward Kareweh said this on July 24 in reaction to the mid-year budget.

Finance Minister, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam said close to GHC3 billion has been expended under the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.

The programme is expected to provide food security. Currently, in the budget, government has begun the second phase, which is expected to register farms to facilitate the implementation of the project.

However, Mr Kareweh said government has wasted resources under the project.

“What now shocks me is that they come and continue to drum home that there has been success in agriculture and the policies are working. Simply, the policies are not working. I am saying that those policies, what they created is waste of money”.

“Waste of resources we have spent nearly GHC3 billion on Planting for Food and Jobs and this is money wasted. Where are the results, why must you be interested in what you put in and we are not interested in the outcomes? And we are only interested in policy intentions and what we have put in there,” Mr Kareweh wondered.

“People are already in the poultry industry. How much do they need? Fifty thousand, hundred thousand to help keep their businesses they don’t get, the business is collapsing,” he lamented.

Source:onuaonline.com