As part of efforts to promote agriculture, the former General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Edward Kareweh says rather than awarding past presidents plush houses after their tenure, the state should establish farms for them to engage in agriculture.
The former general secretary believes former presidents, instead of retiring to their homes after their service, must be given farming inputs to venture in agriculture as a means to boost the sector.
In an interview monitored by The High Street Journal, Edward Kareweh says he is convinced that this shift would not only encourage former presidents to contribute meaningfully to the economy but also ensure they have firsthand experience with the challenges in the agricultural sector, making them more committed to policies that genuinely support farmers.
He is therefore recommending that portions of the country’s laws that grant the privilege of former presidents to be given houses and other benefits be amended so that it becomes imperative for ex-presidents to rather receive inputs for farming.
“For some of us, we even think that looking at the Constitution, instead of awarding past presidents with houses, they should rather go and create farms for them so that they will go and farm after they go on retirement,” he argued.
He believes that if past leaders engage in farming, they would better understand the sector’s difficulties and advocate for policies that do not undermine food production. This, he asserts, will extend beyond presidents and encourage other public officials to take up agriculture post-retirement.
“Because if you’re a farmer, you will not allow certain policies to be made that will undermine your production. So it is not only the President, but it also encourages other public officials who go on retirement to go into agriculture. So one is comforted that, yes, he’s not only a president, but he’s also a farmer,” he added.
The proposal comes at a time when Ghana is striving to revamp its agricultural sector, enhance food security, and reduce dependence on food imports.
Experts argue that making agriculture attractive requires more than policies. It demands visible leadership and direct involvement from key national figures.
