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AGRICULTURE

GHC600,000.00 worth of PFJ fertilizer stolen in Sunyani Municipal MoFA offices

A total of 3,712bags of fertilizer made up of 3,422 bags of NPK, 276bags of Sulphate of Ammonia (SOA) and 14bags of Urea worth GH?600,000.00 meant for Government Flagship programme of Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) cannot be accounted for, at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) Office in the Sunyani Municipality of the Brong Ahafo Region.

Date Created : 8/7/2018 4:06:30 AM : Story Author : Imoro Ayibani/Ghanadistricts.com

Mr. Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister who made this known to the media in a press conference today. He said the fertilizers were stolen at its stock of the Mandela warehouse from the period November 2017 to June 2018.

The Minister said seven (7) officers of the MOFA Department in the Sunyani Municipal were under investigation for their alleged involvement in stealing the fertilizers from the warehouse meant for the Planting for Food and Jobs programme. He noted that the Police and BNI have begun investigations into the development.

Nana Kwaku Dua, the Brong Ahafo Regional Officer of Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in an interview said no door was broken but the officers used the door key to steal the fertilizer. He said the statements of the officers involved has been taken and they were under investigation.

Mr. Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, BA Regional Minister (middle). Chief Director, Oppong Kwame (left) and MCE Sunyani Municipal

Mad. Dr. Evelyn Ama Kumi Richardson

The Crime officer blamed weak internal controls in the management of the fertilizer stocks, poor and/or improper handling of documentation at the warehouse. “Our investigations revealed that people saw fertilizers being loaded in vehicles and carried away at odd hours”, he noted. He added that some of the officers involved would appear to court next week to proof their innocence.

The Planting for Food and Jobs policy is supported by five pillars; the supply of improved seeds to farmers at subsidized prices, the supply of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices, free extension services to farmers, marketing opportunities for produce after harvest, and E-Agriculture aimed at improving agricultural production in the country.

The Regional Minister gave assurance that the theft will not affect the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme currently ongoing in the region and cautioned the MMDCEs in the region take lessons of what had happened in the Sunyani Municipality of MOFA to check and take control management of their stock.