Rawlings defends sale of cutlasses to farmers

President Jerry John Rawlings on Friday defended the decision by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to involve District Chief Executives in the sale of cutlasses to farmers by District Chief Executives (DCEs). He was speaking at the celebration of the 16th National Farmers' Day held at Wa.

In an apparent reference to criticism of this decision by the private press and some opposition parties as a vote catching ploy in the run-up to the December 7 general election, President Rawlings said the DCEs or MPs were simply doing their work. "That is ensuring that farmers of their area can get these basic tools at reasonable cost, instead of leaving them to the mercy of traders who unjustifiably inflate the price of cutlasses in our rural areas."

Mr Stephen Baba Kumase of Zebilla in the Upper East Region was adjudged the Best National Farmer and was presented with a Nissan double cabin Pick-up as his prize