Banks and companies donate towards 2012 National Farmers Day
Eleven companies and two banks on Tuesday donated to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture towards this year’s 28th National Farmers Day Celebration in Accra.
The 2012 Farmers Day Celebration would be held at Abokobi in the Ga East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, under the theme: GROW MORE FOOD: “Strengthening Farmer Based Organizations for Market Place Bargaining Power”.
The banks are the Bank of Ghana (BoG), which donated GH¢30,000 and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), which also presented keys to a three bedroom house to be awarded to the 2012 Best Farmer at a location of his or her choice.
The companies are Francopat Company Limited GH¢10,500, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited GH¢10,000, Interplast Ghana Limited GH¢10,000, Radio XYZ GH¢20, 000 worth of airtime, Ghana Shippers Association GH¢5,000 and the Ghana Re-insurance Company Limited GH¢5,000.
The others are Melcom Ghana Limited, which presented 25 water buckets, three weighing scales and 25 cartons of Derbi apple drinks, Exim Guarantee Limited GH¢5,000, Frankatson Company Limited GH¢5,000 and the Ghana Seed Producers Association.
Nii Amasah Namoale, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, in-charge of Fisheries, said the Ministry was targeting to spend GH¢3.8 million in the 2012 farmers celebration, adding, “I hope the Ministry would hit its target with the compliment of the donations.”
He appealed to corporate bodies in the country to emulate the example of the companies and thanked the donors for their contribution towards the success of the celebration.
Mr Randy Barnes, Regional Vice President for Environment and Social Responsibility of Newmont said the company’s contribution was for the sponsorship of the celebration, adding that, “Every year Newmont donates to all the districts where we operate and this year we have expanded it to the national level.”
Mr Adam Sulley, Executive Head of Retail Banking at the ADB said the bank had always been the lead sponsor of the Farmers Day Celebration and would continue to sponsor the celebration every year.
Mr Thomas Tetteh, Officer at the Secretaries Department of the BoG said the Bank recognizes the contribution of farmers in Ghana and the contribution was to show the central bank’s appreciation of Ghanaian farmers.
Source: GNA