The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in its quest to combat the overwhelming poverty situations in the North, has unveiled plans to comprehensively revive the Cotton Industry in order to ensure maximum production requirements of the Textile Companies and also ensure sustainable employment creation in the Northern Sector of Ghana.
The cotton industry which was very vibrant some years ago is now on the verge of collapse due to por managment and planning, cheap and inferior seeds and insufficnet support from successive governments.
But the government through the Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with the three Northern Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) has organized a three day Stakeholders Forum on Cotton in Tamale.
Under the theme: “Towards the Development of Long term Strategy for Cotton Development in Ghana”, has brought together the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Food and Agriculture, farmer groups, cotton companies, banks, research companies, investors, development partners and among others to brainstorm on new strategies to adopt.
Mahama Ayariga, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, announced that the government had resolved to revitalise the Cotton Industry with the objective of enhancing economic activities in the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions and also reduce poverty among the people.
He indicated that the Ministry was focused on developing a vibrant, competitive trade and industrial sector which would contribute significantly to the economic growth and employment generation of Ghana.
Mr. Ayariga thus called for strong collaboration between the Ministries of Trade and Industry and Food and Agriculture to support farmers/cotton growers through a sustained out-grower scheme to produce raw materials for the growth of the industrial sector.
This, acording to the minister would drastically reduce post harvest losses and ensure high and stable prices for farmers. It would also save the Textile Industries the huge sums of money required to import raw materials from other countries.
Mr. Ayariga disclosed that government through the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) had provided a GH¢3 million Ghanaian Cedi facility to the Cotton Farmers in the three Northern Regions as part of measures to reviving the industry.
Other speakers including the Chairmen of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism and Parliamentary Select Committee on Food and Agriculture, Amadu Sorogho and Dr. Yakubu Alhassan said there was still hope for Ghana to make the Cotton Industry as vibrant as the Cocoa Industry to reduce the Kayaye syndrome in the Northern Sector of Ghana.
The Northern Regional Minister, Moses Bukari Mabengba commended the ruling government and for that matter the Trade and Industry Ministry for the initiative which he said would transform the living conditions of the farmers and their families, when implemented.
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