By Newton Ogah and Austin Ofori:
Chairman of the Award Winners Association of Ghana, Davies Narh Koboe has in a sharp reaction, condemned the action of the Ashanti Regional Agricultural Director, to withdraw the awards given to the 2015 regional best farmer, describing it as improper. He disagreed with the withdrawal, adding that Mr. Edward Kwasi Asadu was only voicing his opinion on how to improve upon the National Farmers award for the benefit of all farmers.
He has therefore promised to follow-up on the matter to the Sector Minister and that Edward Kwasi Asadu need not render any apology before the awards are returned to him as being demanded.
27 year old farmer, Edward Kwasi Asadu who was adjudged the 2015 Ashanti Regional best farmer, has been stripped off his award after making some comments about the awards which the organizers found distasteful. Mr. Asadu had made pronouncements to the effect that the nature of the prizes given them could have been more relevant to their farming activities such as lands to expand their cultivation or even broilers and layers to award winning poultry farmers.
He said the Ashanti regional Director of Agriculture has misquoted him and has succeeded in revoking the awards presented to him.
Referring to the said interview which has generated this whole controversy, he told Owuaraku Asamoah that he was asked about his opinion on the public outcry againstthe awards given them (farmers) and that the government could have made an improvement on their prizes this year.
However, he also said the opinion of the public are tenable since that will help farmers expand their farmlands and also employ more youth, adding, that that was his opinion.
Mr. Asadu explained that his candid opinion perhaps did not go down well with the Regional Director of Agriculture in the region, Mr. Kwaku Fordjor who called to accuse him of granting an interview to denigrate the award given him. The Regional Director then proceeded to announce to him the withdrawal of his award and all the prizes that came with it.
The Ashanti Regional Director of Agriculture Mr. Kwaku Fordjor compared the 2015 awards in the region to previous awards where winners walked away with just Wallington boots and cutlasses, stressing that in order for Mr. Asadu to regain his status as the region’s best farmer, he must first render an apology for his ‘unfortunate’ comments.
To Mr. Fordjor, Mr. Asadu has embarrassed all the regional best farmers with his comments.
Source: ritefmonline.org
