REPORTS: A SPEECH DELIVERED BY DR HANNA LOUISA BISIW-KOTEI AT SAWLA-TUNA ON THE 6TH, OF APRIL, 2024 BRIFOR WOMEN’S ANNUAL CONGRESS ON BEHALF OF JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA.
Theme: “Agriculture is the backbone for national development, the role of women.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Bifor Women Association, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens,
I stand before you today with a profound sense of purpose and commitment as we gather to address a matter of paramount importance: the indispensable role of women in agriculture and its profound impact on our nation’s development. Under the theme “Agriculture is the backbone for national development, the role of women,” we embark on a journey of empowerment, equity, and progress.
Bifor Women Association, founded on [date], organizes women within the contiguous Tuna area into cooperatives employed in agriculture value chain production, establishes village savings and loan facilities for its members, and provides them with education and training to enhance their overall standards of living. It is therefore befitting that this year’s congress deliberates on the importance of agriculture to both the development of the demography of their members and Ghana.
As we delve into this critical discussion, I am reminded of the countless women across our nation who, with unwavering determination and resilience, have tended to the soil, nurtured our lands, and sustained our communities. Their tireless efforts serve as a testament to the pivotal role women play in driving agricultural productivity and fostering economic growth.
Distinguished colleagues, that agriculture is the backbone of our economy is, without doubt, a fact with supporting evidential data. In 2021, agriculture contributed a fifth (20%) to the GDP of the nation. Let us not forget that genuine progress cannot be gauged by GDP or other economic indicators alone but by the respect and empowerment of each individual.
Beyond the GDP figures, agriculture is the reason why a third of Ghanaians have a source of livelihood and personal dignity. It provides citizens of this nation with nutrition and contributes to Ghana’s standing in the global landscape, making it Ghana’s fundamental pillar for national security and dignity, the baseline for building a prosperous society, and a demonstration of our ability to control our fortunes.
My fellow citizens, it is incumbent upon us to recognize the challenges that hinder the full participation of women in agriculture and to take decisive action to address them. For far too long, disparities have plagued our agricultural sector, hampering efforts by women to unleash their full potential for our collective prosperity.
It is estimated that six in every 10 (58.4%) females aged 15 years and older in rural areas are employed in the agricultural sector. Unfortunately, nearly the same number of men and women are employed in agricultural activities, yet, the farms owned or managed by men are twice as productive as those for women. Evidence shows that this situation is caused by several challenges and issues that women face including limited access to land, lack of ownership and control, higher lack of access to financing options, low literacy rates, etc.
Ladies and gentlemen, our national history is populated with policymakers and program planners falling into the trap of addressing issues in agriculture without assessing the gender balance. The assumption is that women will equally benefit from such programs as their male counterparts, but studies reveal that is a flawed assumption. The current NPP government hasn’t even tried to discover this disparity, let alone form a change theory to address it. A very sad outcome for women.
During our government, we made a special effort to support women in cooperatives to enhance their contribution to the nutrition and livelihood of their households, communities, and this country. It saddens me that this noble course was sacrificed for no justifiable reason. In the next government, we will take this empathy for women even further!
Today, I present to a comprehensive vision for the agriculture sector, that acknowledges the disparity women face and is rooted in inclusivity, innovation, and collaboration.
Our initiatives are twofold:
Firstly, we will provide direct support to agriculture-based cooperatives, organized bodies, and smallholder farmers with special emphasis on women, equipping them with the resources and tools needed to thrive. Through access to finance, improved seeds, input subsidies, and policy enforcement, we will ensure that women are afforded equal opportunities to succeed.
Furthermore, we will mandate that 40% of agricultural materials sourced by medium to large manufacturing businesses be procured locally, bolstering our domestic agricultural sector and stimulating economic growth. Businesses that form collaborative partnerships with women-led cooperatives or farm owners, and assist these farmers in developing sustainable agriculture value chain production would be eligible for some waiver of their statutory obligations.
This will enhance women’s participation and success in agriculture and provide avenues for improving household standards of living across the country. This is estimated to have a direct impact on 9 million Ghanaians and an indirect impact on every resident of Ghana through food security and access to nutrition.
Secondly, we envision agriculture as an employer of choice in Ghana, offering equal opportunity to financing, land acquisition, technical support, and market linkages. By championing private sector-led Agriculture Estates, we will create a conducive environment where women can flourish alongside their male counterparts as active farmers or entrepreneurs, empowering them to overcome systemic barriers to agricultural engagement.
Under government support, these entrepreneurial-driven Agriculture Estates would be a focus center of aggregating financing, technical support, support services, and access to inputs for tenant farmers in an all-inclusive tenancy agreement. This will be backed by seed funding by the government through agriculture-oriented and development banks.
Additionally, professional, technical, and technological services will be contracted from relevant statutory departments under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and pre-qualified private sector players to ensure that these estates are professionally competent and their operations are aligned with industry best practices.
To ensure the overwhelming success of this initiative, the program will be designed within an evidence-based Theory of Change framework with a desired impact of Agriculture as a Choice Employer in Ghana, backed by strict monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
This will significantly reduce if not effectively eliminate perennial barriers to agriculture production in the country, leveling the agriculture playing field and enabling entrepreneurially oriented individuals, including women, equal access to realize their self-improvement ambitions. We want to ensure that they are as productive as they are innovative.
We will implement an allied online platform that offers producers market linkages and price transparency and associate the estates with a nationally connected warehousing receipt system to ensure that products receive instant financial value. Tenant farmers of this initiative can thus unleash the full potential of their entrepreneurship and growth.
By providing rapid education, training, and certification to unemployed youth under the supervision of extension officers, qualified agronomists, and youth coaches and counselors, these estates would attract premium salaries and offer stable career options.
Honorable participants of this dignified conference, these initiatives align seamlessly with our overarching goal of fostering empowerment and leadership in agriculture, thereby propelling our nation toward sustainable development and prosperity.
We are pragmatic. Therefore, as we strive for progress in agriculture, we must face the harsh realities that threaten this sector caused by years of greed, corruption, and gross incompetence of the current NPP government. They have failed to tackle these challenges, resulting in widespread difficulties for farmers, decreasing employment opportunities, and worsening environmental and food security crises. The Planting for Food and Jobs program, which was supposed to help small-scale farmers, has been a great disappointment. Despite overwhelming evidence of its failure, the government continues to defend it, which is quite shocking and comical.
But in the face of adversity, we find opportunity. Our vision for the future of agriculture in Ghana is one of inclusivity and empowerment, where women are not just beneficiaries but active participants and leaders in driving agricultural innovation and growth.
To achieve this vision, we must embark on a collective journey of transformation, guided by the principles of equity, resilience, and sustainability. We will prioritize access to resources, training, and market opportunities for farmers in general, whilst providing mitigating structures for women, ensuring that they are equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in agriculture.
Furthermore, we will advocate for gender-inclusive policies and programs that promote equal opportunities for women, leveraging partnerships with state and non-governmental actors to drive evidence-based initiatives that empower women and enhance national equity.
Ladies and gentlemen, the time for action is now. Together, let us build a Ghana where every woman has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to our nation’s prosperity. Let us harness the collective power of our communities, working hand in hand to create a brighter, more equitable future for generations to come.
In closing, I leave you with our simple yet profound slogan: “Building the Ghana we all want together.” Together, let us rise to the challenge, united in our commitment to empowering women, advancing their role in agriculture, and building a better tomorrow for all.
Vote for H.E. John Dramani Mahama and NDC parliamentary candidates in your constituencies to realize these laudable initiatives.
Long live Brifor Women’s Congress.
Long live NDC.
Long live Ghana.
Thank you.
