By Edward Dankwah
Accra, June 13, GNA – The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has organised a one-day capacity-building programme for members of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) in the Chereponi District of the North East Region to strengthen safeguarding practices, budget accountability and inclusive decision-making.
The training formed part of the implementation of the project dubbed, “Strengthening Farmers’ Voices to Promote Accountability and Inclusive Decision-Making in Ghana,” which is being supported by the Star Ghana Foundation.
A statement issued in Accra said the MSP comprises representatives of the Chereponi District Assembly, PFAG District Executives, Civil Society Organisations, processors and aggregators.
Others are traditional authorities, as well as youth and women groups, and serves as a platform for engaging duty bearers and rights holders on issues affecting smallholder farmers.
Dr Roger Akanbisik, Project Officer of PFAG, led participants through safeguarding principles and stakeholder responsibilities aimed at promoting safe, respectful and inclusive engagement among all actors.
He emphasised the need to protect children, vulnerable adults and community members from abuse, exploitation and discrimination, stressing that safeguarding concerns must be addressed promptly, confidentially, and with dignity.
Dr Akanbisik highlighted reporting mechanisms available to stakeholders and urged members of the platform to uphold the highest standards of integrity and accountability in their interactions with community members.
A major highlight of the programme was the presentation of an analysis of the 2026 Chereponi District Assembly Composite Budget by Dr Benjamin Sarfo, Programmes Officer of PFAG.
The analysis revealed that although agriculture employs about 81 per cent of the district’s active population, the sector received only 1.81 per cent of the district’s total budget allocation, making it one of the least-funded sectors.
According to the findings, social services accounted for 37.0 per cent of the budget; infrastructure received 33.3 per cent, trade, tourism and industry obtained 15.7 per cent, while management and administration received 12.0 per cent.
Dr. Benjamin Sarfo, Programmes Officer of PFAG disclosed that 86.8 per cent of the allocation to the agriculture sector was earmarked for salaries, leaving only 13.2 per cent for actual agricultural programmes and field activities.
He noted that critical interventions such as support for the Women in Agricultural Development (WIAD) Unit, storage and warehousing facilities, small-scale irrigation schemes, youth agro-entrepreneurship training and grants, and Good Agricultural Practices had no dedicated budget lines.
Using the findings as a basis for advocacy, Dr Sarfo urged MSP members to leverage evidence from the budget analysis to engage local authorities and demand increased investment in agriculture and improved support for farmers.
He equipped participants with practical advocacy tools and frameworks, stressing that effective advocacy messages must be fact-based, solution-oriented, clear, concise, and respectful to achieve meaningful results.
Participants expressed satisfaction with the knowledge gained during the training and pledged to collaborate more closely to ensure that the priorities of farmers were reflected in district planning and resource allocation.
Mrs Latifu Afushetu, National Vice President of PFAG and a farmer in Chereponi, described the budget analysis as an eye-opener, saying it had given her valuable insight into how the district budget was prepared and why agriculture received only a small share of the allocation.
Mr Kingsley B. Gandaa, District Director of Agriculture, and Mr James Ayambire of the Department of Cooperatives pledged their support for sustaining the MSP beyond the project period.
Participants subsequently committed to tracking budget allocations using PFAG’s scorecard and the Right to Information Act while sharing lessons from the training with communities to strengthen grassroots advocacy and accountability.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
