GAWU joins calls for removal of Afriyie Akoto as Agric Minister

The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has joined calls for the removal of the Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.

“He should be sacked tomorrow because he cannot be the face of Agriculture,” General Secretary of GAWU, Edward Kareweh, said to Citi News.

“The call is even long overdue. It is not for the minister to resign, and I know he will not resign. It is for the President to sack him.”

This stance follows the former CEO of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Senyo Hosi, calling on the Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto to resign.

GAWU holds the view that the minister’s underperformance has contributed to the high prices of food on the Ghanaian market.

“The planting for food and jobs programme alone, the government has spent over GHS 4 billion on it and yet there is nothing to show,” Mr. Kareweh said.

He further criticised the Food and Agriculture Minister’s plans to cart food from the farm gate to Accra to sell at cheaper prices at the premises of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

“It is a call that we think is not well thought through. It is a call that if we allow it to go on, it will lead to creating financial loss to the state.”

“That alone is even enough for him to be dismissed. How much more his monumental failure in managing to plant for food and jobs and putting us in this crisis,” Mr. Kareweh added.