President John Dramani Mahama has intervened to support smallholder farmers in the Asante Akim North District of the Ashanti Region by directing that all 1,000 boxes of tomatoes and 2,000 bags of onions they produced be purchased for use in Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the Ashanti Region.

The directive, announced by Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of Agribusiness at the Presidency, has already seen the Ashanti Regional Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), the Matrons Association, and officials from the Ghana Education Service (GES) move to Asante Akim North to acquire the produce.

According to Dr. Otokunor, the move is part of the government’s commitment to protecting local agribusinesses and ensuring that farmers are not left stranded with unsold produce.

Stakeholders expressed their appreciation to the Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, and the Municipal Chief Executive, Madam Sarah Amoakoa, for their roles in facilitating the process.

The intervention has also drawn praise from the CHASS National President, Rev. Father Steven Owusu Sekyere, the Ashanti Region CHASS leadership, the GES, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, and the Free SHS Secretariat for acting swiftly to safeguard the livelihoods of vegetable farmers in the district.

Officials described the initiative as a clear demonstration of the government’s responsiveness to the challenges of smallholder farmers, while also ensuring that SHS students benefit from fresh, locally sourced food supplies.