Ebrima Tabora Manneh, Secretary General and Party Leader of PAP
By Buba Gagigo
Ebrima Tabora Manneh, the Secretary-General and Party Leader of the People’s Alliance Party (PAP), has sharply criticized the government’s price announcement for the groundnut trading season, asserting that it exposes the Barrow administration’s disregard for agriculture.
During his nationwide tour last week, President Barrow promised farmers an exciting trading season but later declared the same price as last year’s—an announcement met with mixed reactions.
In an audio statement, Manneh argued that the unchanged price reflects the administration’s lack of commitment to supporting farmers. “The budget has been increased by 11 billion (25%) and the allocation to OP increased by about GMD 213 million(25%). If last year’s price is increase by 25%, the price should be GMD 47,500 /Tonne or GMD 47.50/ Kilo”.
However, he expressed no surprise at the announcement, stating: “this government has no interest in improving the country’s productive base especially, the agricultural sector”.
Manneh criticized the administration’s priorities, pointing out inconsistencies in budget allocations.
“Last year’s budget was D42 billion but in the current draft budget for next year, it was increased by over D10 million to meet the government’s planned expenditures. Even the budget allocation to the Presidency was increased for smooth operation. Why are they giving the same price to Farmers in light of all the challenges they faced? Government can fail in giving seedlings to farmers, fertilizers and farming equipment but, there is no excuse in their failure to improve the livelihood of farmers by increasing the price of their produce. It’s clear from the get go that this government is neither committed, nor serious to improve the farming sector. A serious government will always encourage farmers by providing for their sector on a yearly basis to boost productivity and growth” Manneh argued.
He argued that a government serious about agriculture would consistently invest in the sector to boost productivity and growth, accusing Barrow’s administration of paying lip service to farmers. He urged farmers to resist being misled by a government that, in his view, has no interest in their well-being.
“Imagine, he promised you a good trading season only to make a dramatic twist of maintaining the same price for you, farmers. This government is not interested in farmers’ welfare; rather, they regard farmers as less important members of the society who they can be fooling continuously by giving them mere promises that can never be realized. The President and his government telling you sweet promises that they can never realize on the pretext that you (farmers) are easy to fool. You cannot allow yourselves to be fooled twice in a row. Government’s lack of interest in agriculture is manifested already and there is nothing more ridiculous than maintaining your prices after several hardships and struggles to earn a decent living only to be ruined by the government’s inaction that your business is not their business. This moment should be an eye-opener to all farmers and refuse to be deceived by a government who has no interest in improving your livelihood; rather, they are on a self-aggrandizement mission” Manneh stated.
Manneh also argued that the current draft budget highlights the government’s inequitable distribution of resources.
“How can you increase expenditures for most of the sectors and forget farmers? The money they are allocating to sectors belongs to all of us, so why are they inconsiderate to farmers. It’s time for farmers to open their eyes and realize that this government is not here to propelled their interests at any level. Rather, they want to use you (farmers) as tools to achieve their dream of continuity in governance at your detriment. We should refuse such a sinister plan against our interest” he charged.
Ebrima Tabora Manneh, is the leader of PAP, and a consistent critic of the Barrow administration, reiterated that the current state of affairs is unsustainable, particularly for the vulnerable in society.