Bob Adjakloe and Fred Boampong on the English veriosn of the Akuafo TV interview
CropLife Ghana was awarded a grant of GHS158,121.60.60 (One Hundred and Fifty-Eight Thousand One Hundred and Twenty-One Ghana Cedis, Sixty Pesewas) equivalent of about US$ 27,740.63 in 2018 by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC Fund) sponsored by DANIDA and USAID to advocate for the establishment of a levy system through the review of the EPA 1994, (Act 940). Under the BUSAC Fund, CropLife Ghana is expected to undertake the following activities; Training of members and stakeholders, Research into need for the levy system, Sensitization of members and Importing companies, Media awareness on TV and Radio, Stakeholders Workshop and Dialogue & Post-dialogue with regulators and Parliamentarians.
It is in this light that CropLife Ghana conducted TV interviews on one of the agricultural stations, Akuafo TV, based in Accra and popular amongst farming communities in Ghana under the Media activity of the advocacy, to inform the general public and especially farmers and input-importers about the need for the establishment of the levy system and also the review of the EPA 1994, Act 490 to legitimize the levy program. The media platform was used to reiterate the myriad of challenges affecting the agrochemical industry including faking and counterfeiting of agri-inputs, irresponsible uses of pesticides, empty pesticide container management, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) issues, and regulatory and enforcement issues.
The Executive Director of EPA, Mr. John Pwamang in his interview, reiterated the need for the establishment of the levy system and the need for the funds accrued to assist his office in enhancing its mandate in the agrochemical sector. He also indicated that the review of the EPA1994, Act 490 is already being considered by the Authority.
We believe that an established levy system will facilitate the generation of significant funds to support the operations of regulators and bring sanity into the agri-input industry. We are therefore encouraging all stakeholders and the general public to rally behind this action to ensure the establishment of a levy system for the development of the agri-input industry, agricultural sector and Ghana at large.