Africa-Press – Ghana. Mr Mahamud Baka Aduna, the President of the Sisaala Union, has appealed to stakeholders, including the District Assemblies in the area, to ensure the establishment of a central maize market to address the dwindling prices of maize and other cereal crops affecting farmers.
Mr Aduna made the appeal at Tumu in a speech read on his behalf at the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Sissala Union.
He stated that such a move was essential to spur on economic growth and protect local farmers from exploitation by business interests.
Regarding agricultural support, the Union announced that it had entered into a partnership with an organisation in the Czech Republic aimed at providing farmers with soft loans at a seven per cent interest rate. Mr Aduna said although the initiative faced delays due to rigorous documentation the deal was bound to materialise next year.
“Even when our farmers are taken advantage of by ungrateful businessmen and women, we look on helplessly. If this trend continues, we will move many steps backwards in crop cultivation,” he stated.
Mr Aduna highlighted the Union’s interventions over the past year, including its engagement with the Upper West Regional Police Command during a period of increased armed robbery incidents in the area.
On cultural preservation, he noted that the Union’s participation in this year’s Gandawii Naabahilime Festival was fruitful and encouraged other traditional areas to institute festivals to help preserve Sissala heritage.
“Let us jealously protect our heritage and values for posterity, for it shall surely judge us when we count the wrong steps,” he advised.
On the issue of security, the Union reported a successful dialogue with the Regional Police Command following a surge in armed robberies in the area.
Mr Adamu Yakubu, the Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive said the Sissala land was endowed with fertile soils suitable for maize, millet, and sorghum, yet farmers continued to struggle to secure fair prices.
“Our farmers are hardworking, but poor market access, lack of storage facilities, and the dominance of middlemen makes it difficult to get fair value for their produce.”
“I want to assure all that we are aware of the challenge and have engaged assembly members on possible interventions.
We have seen the poor market situation first-hand and have been engaging the government to intervene. However, as we wait, it is important for us as stakeholders to brainstorm practical solutions,” the MCE stated.
Mr Issah Mohammed Bataglia, Member of Parliament for Sissala East urged the Union to come together as a people to solve the common problems that faced them.
Mr Mohammed Adam Sukparu, Deputy Minister for Communication and Digital Innovation and MP for Sissala West appealed to farmers in the area to take advantage of the agricultural value chain and what it offers and not concentrate on only producing but consider marketing and transportation.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the conference, the Union requested for members to invest in and buy shares at the Sisaala Rural Bank to help raise its share capital, since it is a community owned.
The communique also wants collaboration with the Sisaali Language Implementation committee, to liaise with Sisaala chiefs to boost enrolment at the University of Education Winneba, Ajumako campus and to lobby the University for Development Studies and GTEC to introduce Sisaali studies at the Tumu College of Education and the University of Business and Integrated Studies-Wa, to train more teachers to introduce Sisaali at the basic school level and make it examinable at the BECE and WASSCE levels.
Other proposals included establishing a Sisaala Grains Development Committee to work collectively to create large and reliable market centres for agricultural products, including ruminants, to minimise the exploitation of underprivileged farmers as well as engaging stakeholders of educational institutions to develop lasting solutions to improve BECE performance and facilitate the placement of candidates within the Sisaala catchment area.
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