The 2025 Farmers Day celebration in the Okaikwei North Municipality saw 32-year-old Elliott Atiadze, a rabbit farmer from ACE Farms in Achimota, crowned the Overall Best Farmer.
The ceremony, held on Friday, honoured hardworking farmers whose dedication continues to sustain Ghana’s food security.
For his exceptional performance in livestock production, Mr. Atiadze received a prize package including roofing sheets, a poly tank, a knapsack sprayer, feed, Wellington boots, wire mesh, and a wheelbarrow.
Several individuals and institutions were also honoured for their contributions to agriculture within the Municipality.
They include: Best Livestock Farmer; Ibrahim Amidu; Best Poultry Farmer, Isaac Nii Otu Lartey; Best Crop Farmer; Nurudeen Mohammed and Best Home Gardener, Mbresante Enyidah.
The rest are: Best Faith-Based Organization, Apenkwa Presbyterian Church; Best Senior High School (SHS) in Practical Agriculture, Achimota School; Best Youth Farmer, Emmanuel Ottoo and Best Agriculture Extension Officer, Leticia Boatemaa Antwi.
The late Maxwell Owusu was honoured posthumously as the Best Municipal Fish Farmer.
In his remarks, Mr. Atiadze expressed profound appreciation for the honour, stating that the award would motivate him to expand his work in rabbit farming.
He thanked President John Dramani Mahama, the Municipal Assembly and all its partners for the recognition and urged national leaders to continue giving meaning to agriculture through sustained investment and support.
Addressing the gathering on the theme: “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future”, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Christian Tetteh Badger, said the Assembly, together with the Agriculture Department had crafted ambitious projections to actualize the President’s agricultural agenda.
He noted that the Municipality would soon engage beneficiaries of the “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” programme, offering preparation support and consistent extension services to ensure farmers fully benefit from the NDC government’s flagship initiative.
Hon. Badger also reaffirmed Okaikwei North’s commitment to President Mahama’s Feed Ghana Programme, announcing support measures for urban farming and home gardening, including: Strengthening farmer-based organisations with inputs such as certified seeds, fertilizers, market linkages, and irrigation assistance; Expanding agribusiness support for women and youth, particularly in processing, value addition, and post-harvest loss reduction and promoting agriculture in schools and faith-based institutions, leveraging their available land for demonstration farms to support school feeding and youth training.
“Agriculture is Ghana’s lifeline,” he said, “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana means backing our local producers and building a self-reliant future under NDC stewardship.”
The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei North, Hon. Theresa Lardi Awuni, described the establishment of 50 Farmer Service Centres nationwide as a “game-changer” for the agricultural sector.
She explained that each centre would provide affordable access to mechanized services, including tractors, combined harvesters, and planters.
“These centres will not only ease the burden on farmers but also expand cultivated areas and minimize post-harvest losses,” she said “This is the path to year-round farming and increased national yields.”
Hon. Awuni applauded the awardees for their hard work, urging farmers to embrace emerging technologies and government support systems.
The Chairperson for the ceremony, Nii Ayibontey Adams II, the Chief of Achimota, encouraged farmers to look beyond crop farming and explore other viable sectors such as livestock, aquaculture, and agro-processing.
He stressed that a diversified agricultural sector creates more opportunities for residents and strengthen the local economy.
He further appealed for peaceful coexistence within the Municipality, noting that unity is essential for development.
Friday’s celebration attracted farmers, students, community leaders, and stakeholders who gathered to honour the men and women whose labour sustains households and markets across the Municipality.
Source: onma.gov.gh
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson, AD IIB
