Editorial
Kudos to all physically challenged farmers’ awardees
Last week Friday, Ghana held its annual Farmers’ Day celebration when farmers and fishers across the country were awarded for their contributions in farming, fishing and local food production.
Nana Owusu Achiaw from the Sekyere Central District of the Ashanti Region was crowned the overall National Best Farmer for the year and received an amount of GH¢1million sponsored by the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).
Among the awardees were some physically challenged who through their resilience and commitment had also contributed immensely to farming, despite their physical handicap to advance food security.
Notable among these awardees is Mr John Nii Arday Ofoliquaye, a 49-year-old aquaculturist from Mamprobi in the Greater Accra Region (GAR), who was awarded the Best Physically Challenged Farmer by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
Also, Mr. Stephen Addo from the Sene West District in the Bono East Region was adjudged the National Best Physically Challenged Farmer for 2024 at the awards dinner held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra last Friday.
In the Kasena Nankana West District in the Upper East Region, Chiravero Addah James, a physically challenged farmer, was recognised as the Best Disability Farmer of the Year for his dedication to mixed cropping.
Similarly, 16 physically challenged best farmers from the regions were also honoured and awarded with certificates at the dinner night.
They received various awards of essential farming tools and supplies during the 40th National Farmers’ Day celebration, held on Friday, November 8, 2024.
What is most intriguing is that they did not use their physical challenges as an excuse to beg for alms but engaged in a profitable venture such as farming to make a living for themselves, their families, communities and the nation as a whole.
They had proven that physical limitations need not hinder success thus their condition did not impede their dreams and vision.
Their success should be a shining example to other physically challenged individuals to disregard societal stigmatisation and have confidence in their abilities. Their example should spur the abled to work harder to achieve laurels in their various fields.
To the physically challenged who resort to begging on the streets this should be a clarion call for them to reconsider their decision to be permanent beggars begging amidst vehicular traffic which poses great danger to their lives.
Instead they should rather find something lucrative to do for as the saying goes disability is not inability.
Editorial
Merits and demerits of scraping betting tax
Dear Editor,
Over the past years, a lot of concerns have been raised about the rise of sports betting companies in the country, their operations, and how it impacted negatively on the youth of the country.
I have also witnessed how some of the youth go to the extent of borrowing money from friends or use companies’ money to stake bets, which they were not guaranteed of winning.
Due to this, I was happy when the previous government introduced the betting tax, as I felt it would deter the youth from engaging in it.
However, some Ghanaians hold the view that the betting tax would help create employment.
It wasn’t surprising to see the excitement that greeted the announcement of the scrapping of the tax by the Finance Minister.
My worry now is how, as a country, the youth can be discouraged from engaging in betting.
I believe that as the betting tax has been scrapped, it is about time that the government finds ways of addressing the issue of betting among the youth as it is becoming more serious than before.
I believe that there should be a multi-stakeholder engagement between the various stakeholders to proffer solutions to address them.
Editorial
Rail crossing point at circle- Kaneshie road needs attention
Dear Editor,
I read with happiness a letter published in the previous edition about the poor state of the rail crossing stretch of the Circle-Kaneshie road.
I totally agree with the concerns raised by the writer and I wish to add my voice to the call on the authorities to quickly work on that stretch of the road.
What the writer left out was the occasional happenings when vehicles break down on the rail line. I have witnessed that before.
It is not a comfortable thing driving on it at all. It is a huge dent on the beauty the interchange was expected to bring to the area.
The traffic it creates is a major inconvenience to people who are rushing to work.
I wish to appeal to the authorities to quickly do something about that portion of the road to make it convenient for drivers. Thank you for the space.
Maxwell Amamoo,
Odorkor
