Musician, Okyeame Kwame, has called for free university education for farmers’ children, arguing that the policy would encourage more young people to pursue careers in agriculture.
He said farmers deserved greater recognition and support for their contribution to the country’s economy and food security.
Speaking on Hitz FM on Monday, the musician questioned why Ghana continued to import food items such as onions despite the country’s agricultural potential.
“Farmers’ children should go to school for free. When we were growing up, they had a farmers’ scholarship; I don’t know where it has passed,” he said.
He acknowledged the introduction of free primary and secondary education but argued that extending the benefit to university level for farmers’ children would serve as an additional incentive for farming families.
According to him, the lack of sufficient encouragement for farmers could discourage them from urging their children to take up agriculture.
“At this point of our economy, we still import onions from a desert country. We still import different types of foods, and why is it like that? Because farmers do not feel encouraged to tell their children to also be farmers,” he stated.
Okyeame Kwame urged the country to prioritise farmers’ welfare, insisting that their contribution to national development was often overlooked.
“The earlier we recognise and pamper farmers, the better. Because without them, there will be no economy, there will be no education, there will be no health,” he said.
He added that farmers were responsible for sustaining several essential sectors of the country but did not receive the recognition they deserved.
His proposal touches on conversations about strengthening local food production, reducing dependence on imports and making agriculture more attractive to the younger generation.
By Francis Addo