Audio By Carbonatix
The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) wants Farmers Holiday scrapped.
Even though they want the day observed as Farmers Day in recognition of the great work by farmers they are vehemently against the holiday observed in their honour.
General Secretary of the Union Edward Karewe told Joy News’ Gifty Andoh Appiah on Top Story Thursday, observing the day as a holiday does not in any way inure to the benefit of Ghanaian farmers.
On the contrary, he noted Ghana’s economy loses close to ¢63 million anytime a holiday is declared and would rather that money is channeled towards resolving some of the challenges farmers are facing.
Interestingly Mr Karewe said anytime a holiday is declared it is rather the farmers, in whose honour the holiday is declared who go to work whilst others sleep at home or enjoy themselves at the beaches.
“How many farmers benefit from this holiday?” he asked.
His comments come a day before the country observes yet another Farmers' Day holiday on December 1, 2017.
The first Friday in December has been set aside as a Holiday to honour farmers for their contribution to Ghana’s Economy.
Agriculture is Ghana's most important economic sector, employing more than half the population on a formal and informal basis and accounting for almost half of GDP and export earnings.
But GAWU says the best way to honour farmers is to scrap the holiday from the Farmers Day celebration programme.
A Member of Parliament for Kintampo North Kwasi Atu Bondie who won the mango farmer of the year also agreed with the call for the holiday to be scrapped.
He said whilst the celebration is significant the impact is hardly felt by the farmer.
But the Deputy Agric Minister Kennedy Osei Nyarko disagrees with the call for the holiday to be scrapped.
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