The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), the national apex farmer-based association has formed a Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP), to advocate inclusive agricultural development in the Nkoranza South Municipality of the Bono East Region.

The MSP comprises representatives of the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly, Civil Society Organisations, processors, aggregators, traditional authorities, youth and women’s groups.

They will also engage duty bearers and rights holders as well as identify and tackle bottlenecks in policies and development issues affecting smallholder farmers.

At a meeting of the MSP at Nkoranza, Dr Benjamin Sarfo, the Programmes Officer of the PFAG, explained that the formation of the Platform aligned with the “Strengthening Farmers’ Voices to Promote Accountability and Inclusive Decision-Making in Ghana” project.

He said the Association with funding from the Star Ghana Foundation was implementing the project in the Wa Municipality and Daffiema Bussie Issah Districts in the Upper West Region, Nanumba North District in the Northern Region, Nkoranza Municipality in the Bono East Region, Krachi East District in the Oti Region and Chereponi District in the North East Region.

Dr Sarfo expressed concern that smallholder farmers faced a complex web of challenges including high input costs, limited access to mechanisation and irrigation, poor market linkages, and external threats like illegal mining and climate change impacts.

These constraints not only undermine their livelihoods but also compromise national food systems, he stated, saying that despite their central role, smallholder farmers lacked the agency and capacity to effectively engage local authorities.

That is due to weak farmer group structures, limited knowledge of advocacy and accountability frameworks, and insufficient recognition by local governance structures.

Dr Sarfo said the PFAG sought to give a life of dignity to its members most especially women and youth, yet many of them remained among the poorest and most vulnerable populations.

“They are often overlooked by development policies and underserved by institutional support, hence the need to effectively institutionalise this MSP to tackle key barriers affecting farmers in the municipality,” he stated.

Dr Sarfo also took the MSP through an overview of the PFGA and stressed their core mandates, objectives, activities, achievements so far and its national recognition in advocating good policies for farmers nationwide.

He also shared with participants the progress of the Star Ghana Foundation project, stressing the key challenges smallholder farmers faced during the periods of needs assessment and advocacy capacity building sessions.

Dr Sarfo emphasised the need to use the platform for improved policy and budgetary responsiveness at the local level, enhanced accountability and service delivery and institutionalise regular, constructive engagement among all actors, fostering shared understanding and coordinated action to address agricultural challenges.

Ahestofeil Appiah, a representative from the Nkoranza South Municipal Assembly, said there was a need to put the platform into effective use to address the pertinent challenges impeding agricultural growth and development in the municipality.

“While local platforms for engagement exist, resource constraints often prevent assemblies from convening them regularly, especially the committees of agriculture,” he said.

Mr Appiah said the PFAG's initiative through the Star Ghana Foundation project was laudable and would be supported by the assembly.

Gifty Fremah Appiah, the Nkoranza South Municipal Director of Agriculture, highlighted the need to sustain the platform beyond the project lifespan, noting that several platforms had been instituted in the past few years to promote similar agendas; however, they became non-functional after the closure of the projects.

Paul Owusu Achiaw, a Reverend Minister and a farmer was selected as the lead conveyer of the MSP platform and to be co-chaired by Mrs Appiah and they pledged their commitment to make the platform functional and respond to the needs of farmers in the municipality.

Rose Yahaya, the Queen mother of Adoagyir Traditional Area in the Municipality, lauded the formation of the platform and urged all members to support its effectiveness.

Dr Gillian S. Duut, a representative of the Nkoranza South Municipal office of the National Commission for Civic Education urged the members to remain committed to meetings.

That would facilitate growth of the MSP in the municipality and expressed the hope that with the platform challenges confronting youth and women farmers would be tackled.