The National President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Wepia Awal Adugwala, has endorsed President John Mahama’s decision to nominate John Dumelo as Deputy Minister-Designate for Food and Agriculture.
President Mahama announced Dumelo’s nomination on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, a move that has been met with optimism from stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
Speaking to Citi News, Adugwala noted that the association has long advocated for leadership within the ministry to come from individuals with firsthand experience in farming. He expressed confidence that Dumelo, being a farmer himself, understands the struggles of the industry.
“We have always insisted that those appointed to the ministry should have direct knowledge of the challenges farmers face. With John Dumelo being a farmer, we believe he is well aware of these difficulties and can work towards addressing them,” he stated.
Adugwala further highlighted that Dumelo’s youthfulness and influence could play a key role in making agriculture more appealing to younger generations.
“We expect policies that will attract the youth to agriculture by leveraging technology to modernize farming, making it easier and more productive,” he added.
Additionally, he noted that Dumelo is well-positioned to support President Mahama’s 24-hour economy policy in the agricultural sector, particularly by empowering smallholder farmers to produce enough raw materials to sustain the agro-based industry.
