Replace Agricultural Land with Buildings of Concern – Development Planner

Company News of Monday, January 28, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-01-28

Sam Enyan Kusi, a development planner, wants a long conversation on a disturbing phenomenon, where farmland is being replaced by buildings across the country.

According to him, this trend is a "threat to food security" for the country.

"It's a national crisis; Unfortunately, nobody seems to talk about it. If you travel all over the country, all urban cities expand and absorb all otherwise rural areas known for their agricultural and other activities, "he said.

Enyan Kusi expressed his concern at Monday's Citi Breakfast Show.

Some Ghanaians have expressed concerns about the leasing of agricultural land to real estate companies and individuals for construction purposes, thus reducing the size of the country's vegetation cover.

"What I want the government to do is we need advocacy and outreach from all stakeholders. We need to start working with the MMDAs and our traditional councils to start a dialogue. I think there should be a conversation on the issue, "he added.

Ghana's population in 2010 rose to just over 24 million, but recent projections have estimated it to be around 30 million.

As the population continues to increase with urbanization rapidly catching up with farming communities, the need for housing and development projects is increased.

This forces landowners to sell their land to ensure rapid development.

Agricultural census projects decrease in agricultural population

Preliminary results from the 2018 Census of Agriculture showed a considerable reduction in the agricultural population in Ghana.

According to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the last census conducted 33 years ago showed that at least one in 4.7 million households least one person who worked in agriculture.

"The preliminary results are very interesting. At the last census, 33 years ago, there were 4.7 million households with at least one person working in agriculture. This number has been reduced to 2.6 [million] this year [2018]. So there have been structural changes going on and I'm waiting for the final badysis to see what other changes have taken place, "he said in an interview for the Citi Breakfast Show. from December 2018.

A report by the Ghana Statistical Service on the workforce revealed that as education levels increased, the interest in agriculture declined.

The report indicated that 18% of the uneducated wanted to enter agriculture, compared to only 2% who had two or more degrees.

Accra is worse

According to Mr. Enyan, although the reduction in the size of agricultural land is widespread in other parts of the country, "the case in Accra is far [more] more serious than in other regions. "

"If you look back 25 years ago and you look at the topography of Accra, you will be amazed at the difference between that time and now. I do not even know where Accra's size ends. We extended almost until Winneba. We went beyond Nsawam towards Suhum. We have expanded and we are almost catching up with the mountain towns. We went beyond Tema and headed for Dodowa. If you go to Kumasi, Ho and others, it's the same, "he added.

He said that the current crop of Ghanaians was doing a disservice to the next generation as they yielded most of the land.

"My concern about urban sprawl is about food security in the future … It's like we're not serving the next generation. We must do everything in our power to preserve the land for the future generation. We must dialogue. there should be a conversation, "he added.