The Savannah Regional Branch of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) held its first delegates conference at Damongo, the regional capital on Saturday 10th May, 2025.
The conference, which saw the election of new regional executives, was attended by various stakeholders, including officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Savannah Regional Lands Commission and the Electoral Commission of Ghana who supervised the election.
The newly elected executives, who will serve for the next four years, are:
- Regional Chairman: Dr. Kapori Abutu
- Regional Vice Chairman: Al-Hassan Mustapha
- Regional Secretary: Peter Mahama
- Regional Organizer: Asumah Baba Iddisah
- Regional Financial Secretary: Mahama Awa
6.Regional Treasurer: Ibrahim Shafiwu - Regional Women’s Organizer: Gbolo Dawuda
- Regional Youth Organizer: Zakaria Mohammed Amin
- In a speech delivered on behalf of the Regional Director of MOFA, Alhaji Ibrahim Mumuni, by the Deputy Regional Director emphasized the importance of supporting the new leadership to ensure the success of the association. He noted that the congress was not just about electing new leaders but also about strengthening the bond between all stakeholders.
“We all need to support them to successfully steer the affairs of the association to the promised land,” she said. “The new leadership must also be prepared to carry the torch of advocacy, reconciliation, consultation, capacity building, influencing policy, and ensuring that the voices of farmers and fishermen are heard at every level of decision-making”.
A representative of the Regional Lands Commission highlighted the importance of land registration, including farmlands. He noted that registering farmlands would help secure them from sale or encroachment by other individuals.
“Registering your farmlands will help you secure your lands from sale or encroachment by any other person,” he said. “It’s been a worrying issue for us when farmers lose their land due to their inability to register with the Lands Commission.”
He urged all farmers within the association to register their farms with the Lands Commission.
The National Women Organizer of GNAFF, Naana Asi Tettey Akplehey, emphasized the importance of women’s roles in promoting GNAFF activities. She noted that women are key stakeholders in every society and organization.
“In every society and organization where women find themselves, they are seen as key stakeholders,” she said. “I urge all women to play their roles well in promoting GNAFF activities.”
The Consultant of GNAFF, Francis Opai Tetteh, called for the reorganization and rebranding of GNAFF to effectively promote its work. He noted that GNAFF, which was established by the 1992 Constitution, has over the years lost its status and effectiveness due to poor leadership.
“GNAFF is the mother trade union of all associations in the agriculture sector,” he said. “We need to uphold the vision of the Association to perform well as per its slogan ‘We feed the Nation’.”
The newly elected Chairman of the Savannah Regional Branch of GNAFF, Dr. Kapori Abutu, expressed his gratitude to the members for electing him and his team. He noted that the election marked an important milestone for the association in the region.
“Today marks an important day in the Savannah region,” he said. “We’ve come together to lift the image of Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen in the Savannah region, and together as a team, we shall move forward the crusade, objectives, and plans of GNAFF in the region.”
He emphasized that leadership is not just about leading people but about working together as a team to transform the region in terms of agriculture.
“Change will come, and change will start from the farmer,” he emphasized.
Dr. Abutu concluded by stating that his team is committed to serving the people of the Savannah region, particularly farmers. “We have duly accepted to serve the people of Savannah region, especially farmers,” he said. “We will work tirelessly to ensure the development of agriculture in the region.”
