President Mahama rescues farmers in Asante Akim North from heavy post-harvest losses

President John Dramani Mahama has rescued farmers in the Asante Akim North District from suffering heavy post-harvest losses after the farmers were left with about three thousand combined bags and boxes of tomatoes and onions without buyers.

According to the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, Peter Boamah Otukonor, the president has directed the purchase of all 1000 boxes of tomatoes and the 2000 bags of onions produced by the stranded farmers for use by Senior High Schools in the Ashanti Region.

“HE President @JDMahama has directed the purchase of all the 1000 boxes of tomatoes and the 2000 bags of onions produced by smallholders in Asante Akim North for the Senior High Schools in Ashanti Region.

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“The Ashanti Regional CHASS, the Matrons Association and the Ashanti Regional GES have moved this morning to Asante Akim North to purchase the food stuffs from the smallholder farmers,” he wrote in a X post on Monday, September 15, 2025.

The action by the government, followed an appeal by the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, on social media, calling for help for the hitherto stranded farmers.

In his post on X, Otukonor expressed appreciation to the MP, the MCE for the area and other stakeholders including the Ghana Education Service and the Minister of Education.

“Our deepest appreciation to the MP for Asante Akim North @_OKFrimpong, the MCE Hon Sarah Amoakoa and all for who have made it possible to save the businesses of these vegetable farmers. Big thanks to CHASS National President Rev Father Steven Owusu Sekyere, the Ashanti Region CHASS Chairman, the GES, the Minister of Education Haruna Iddrisu, the free SHS secretariat for the swift action. Thank God for a listening and responsive President,” he wrote.

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Estimates suggest Ghana loses 20-50% of its agricultural output annually due to Post Harvest Losses (PHL), driven by inadequate storage facilities, poor handling practices, limited access to modern processing technologies, and inefficient transportation systems.

The impact of the losses includes exacerbated food insecurity, reduced farmers' incomes, and strain on the economy.

H.E President @JDMahama has directed purchase of all the 1000 boxes of tomatoes and the 2000 bags of onions produced by smallholders in Asante Akim North for the Senior High Schools in Ashanti Region. The Ashanti Regional CHASS, the Matrons Association and the Ashanti Regional… pic.twitter.com/E3Y6F17ABA

— Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor Ch.FE (@potokunor) September 15, 2025