Public enterprises are supposed to render account to the public. According to section 207 of the Constitution the media is given the responsibility to hold public bodies accountable to the people. This is why Foroyaa consistently held the National Food Security Processing and Marketing Corporation (NFSPMC commonly known as GGC) to account in terms of the groundnut sector.
GGC has completed its assessment of the 2024/2025 groundnut marketing season. Four key areas were the movers of the trade season: QMoney, the secco managements, the Federation of Cooperative Societies and GGC.
According to the GGC they have paid all farmer who have delivered their nuts at the seccos. They also rendered account that they managed to purchase 23,000 tonnes in the 2024/2025 compared to the 38,000 tonnes in the 2023/2024 groundnut buying season.
According to them, the seccos would have to improve their efficiency and effectiveness in screening the groundnuts to remove all dust and other obstacles before weighing, which results to GGC incurring losses.
Secondly, they claim to pay claims made by farmers that the seccos have not delivered, thus incurring losses. They also say that they will pursue and recover these monies from the seccos through proper channels. At the end of the season the total amount paid to farmers is 23 million dalasi.
As the corporation prepares for the next groundnut trading season, Foroyaa has been informed that fertiliser is already available waiting for government to fix the price.
The corporation intends to maintain the Federation of Cooperatives (FACs) as partners in the purchasing of nuts but would require greater efficiency and effectiveness to ensure that they are free from debris.
The corporation claims that it will review and determine whether or not to rely on Qmoney as a medium for purchasing groundnuts.
Foroyaa will continue to conduct an interview with coordinator of the FACs to know what measures are in place to ensure that only registered societies are allowed to purchase groundnuts and that no interference will be entertained on how farmers established and registered. Farming is not a partisan enterprise and those who manage seccos should do so because of competence and not because party political affiliation.
