Society has made farmers poor-Kwao
Measures at entry points to become less cumbersome
Owusu-Agyemang said since January, this year, the GIS has discontinued the
endorsement of Ghanaian passport with stamps on arrival at the entry points and
that Ghanaians only need to complete the disembarkation forms.
The
Minister was answering questions from the NPP-MP for Asutifi
South, Mrs Cecilia Gyan Amoah as to why Ghanaian
nationals returning home from abroad are made to fill in immigration forms
whereas this is not required in other countries.
Owusu-Agyemang said the entry into
"This
helps in knowing the number of persons including Ghanaians entering the
country," adding that the completion of prescribed forms by Ghanaians is,
therefore, within the law. Owusu-Agyemang noted that
the situation relating to visitors into the country is under constant review
and whenever it is found desirable, it would be modified by taking into account
technologies which would make it possible to determine the number of Ghanaian
travellers without filling the disembarkation forms.
GRi…/
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Society has made farmers poor-Kwao
He
said in the life of the rural farmer, "the cycle of poverty goes on and
on. The situation of the Ghanaian farmer keeps on deteriorating. The ordinary
farmer is unable to afford good education and health care."
The
member had delivered a statement in Parliament on "Finding equitable
prices for our farmers" He said:" According to Ghana living standard
survey report, about 55 per cent of the working population are employed in
agricultural activities," adding that, " farmers should be the focal
point of agriculture development. However, it is pathetic that the state and
condition of farmers in this country is deplorable.
"Most
of the farmers are glued to primitive system of cultivation. Modern
agricultural technology is totally out of their reach." He said the worst
of the conditions of the farmer is the pricing of farm produce that is normally
controlled by intermediaries.
"I
strongly believe that this system of trade is not fair. It is totally against
moral justice. These are some of the issues that we should be addressing."
He
called for a, "reasonable regulatory framework, "which would ensure
that farmers get their due from their toil." The member said the plight of
the farmer goes beyond pricing mechanism, adding, "there
is the issue of lack of storage facilities and accessible roads."
He
called on government to establish storage facilities in rural areas. "It
must be noted that there is no need in asking or encouraging farmers to produce
more when, indeed storage facilities for bumper harvest are totally
unavailable."
GRi…/
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