UW regional security intercepts 2000 kilogrammes of smuggled PFJs fertilizer

Security agencies in the Upper West Region have intercepted two cargo vehicles suspected to be smuggling 2,000 kilogrammes of fertilizer meant for Planting for Food and Jobs programme to neighbouring Burkina Faso.

The vehicles, with registration numbers GB 8461 – 12 and GB 2409 – 12 each loaded 1000kgs of fertilizers, bagged in 50kg sacks and invoiced to BB Slow – Gwollu from John-Dor Ventures.

Mr Ben Suuri, the Upper West Regional Liaison Officer of National Security, who confirmed the seizure to journalists in Wa said the arrest was based on a tip-off, following incessant reports about fertilizer smuggling in the region.

The Ministry of Food and Agricultural introduced a policy early this year, by designating all 50kg bags of PFJs fertilizer for supply to southern and 25kg for Northern Ghana.

The distinction implies that any 50kg bag of fertilizer found in the northern part of the country was automatically deemed smuggled, while any 25kg bag found in southern Ghana was also deemed stolen.

Mr Suuri was not sure of what would happen to the seized fertilizer, but contemplated that it might be auctioned to farmers in the region to serve as a deterrent to would-be smugglers of the government subsidized manure.

“We cannot use our foreign exchange to import fertilizer, only for it to be exported to another country, when we are crying about the falling value of our currency,” he said.

He cautioned the public to follow the right channel by registering PFJs fertilizer with the Regional Minister, who would then liaise with regional and district directors of agriculture to deliver to retailer shops, where personnel of Nation Builders Corps are stationed to record and compare the figures with designated retailers.