NPP executives fingered in smuggling subsidized fertilizers

The national organiser and president of the local chapter of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Shiraz Jawol has accused some members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper West Region for diverting over 20,000 bags of government-subsidised fertilisers.

According to him, “The situation of government’s subsidised fertilisers in the region is very challenging and also worrying.”

Earlier, there were reports that the fertilizers were being smuggled out to neighbouring Burkina Faso to the detriment of farmers in the region.

Reports indicated that the fertilizers were sold out to individuals who were hoarding the commodity with the intention of selling it out later in the open market at a higher price during the peak farming season.
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The national organiser in an interview on Accra-based Class FM said “The reality and the truth on the ground, per what we have gathered, is that they are financiers, frontiers, big people of the governing New Patriotic Party who happen to be retailers of the subsidised fertilisers or inputs.
Though he did not mention names, he said “We know, and I’m talking for Sissala West and East. We know those who do fertiliser business in these two respective districts.

“They are known NPP supporters. If the [farmers] cannot have access to subsidised inputs then it means the farmers cannot farm and it will also bring about low income to those farmers.”
“I think if we can put this situation under control, we have to use the community watchdogs. They are the only people who can do this work for us. If we want to depend on the security people, we will fail and the farmers will be the ones to suffer from this action,” he added.

He pointed out that anybody found capable must face the full rigorous of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.