The Fetish Priest of the Asuo Pamoo Spiritual Home in Abofrem, Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region, Nana Baffour Gyau, has issued a strong warning to Ghanaian farmers and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture over the alarming rate at which agrochemicals are being used on farmlands across the country. He described the practice as dangerous and unsustainable, urging immediate reforms to protect the nation’s soil health for future generations.
Speaking to the media during the 2025 Atwima Mponua District Inter-Schools Cultural Festival held at Ahyiresu, Nana Baffour Gyau cautioned that excessive reliance on chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides is gradually destroying Ghana’s farmlands and posing a serious threat to long-term food security.
“We are killing our lands with these chemicals. Our soils are losing their strength and fertility. If we continue like this, a time will come when we will not be able to grow anything on our land. That is a danger we must not ignore,” he warned.
According to the traditional leader, many farmers have been misled to believe that success in farming depends solely on the use of foreign chemical products. He emphasized that, in the past, Ghanaian farmers used natural compost, animal manure, and crop rotation techniques that preserved the environment and supported long-term food production.
> “Our ancestors farmed without chemicals and fed generations. Today, in the name of fast results, we spray the land with chemicals that poison not only the soil but the water we drink and the food we eat,” he added.
Nana Baffour Gyau called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to intensify public education on the dangers of chemical misuse and to offer practical training to farmers on organic and sustainable farming practices. He also suggested that agriculture extension officers be deployed more frequently to rural communities to monitor farming activities and ensure safe and responsible practices.
> “The Ministry of Agriculture must step up. Their officers must regularly visit farms, educate the farmers, and check the products being used. Farming is not just about yields. It’s about protecting the land for future generations,” he stressed.
He expressed fear that the current trend, if not reversed, could lead to a situation where Ghana becomes dependent on imported food due to barren farmlands caused by overuse of chemicals. He also warned of the public health implications associated with consuming food products grown with toxic substances.
In his view, Ghana’s path to agricultural prosperity lies not in chemicals, but in a return to nature-based solutions that align with indigenous knowledge systems and respect the environment.
The event where Nana Baffour Gyau made his remarks—the 2025 Inter-Schools Cultural Festival—was organized by the Ghana Education Service (GES) under the theme “Cultural Education: Empowering the Youth to Preserve Our Culture.” It brought together pupils, teachers, chiefs, and opinion leaders from across the Ahyiresu Circuit to celebrate Ghanaian traditions through music, dance, folklore, and poetry.
In addition to addressing environmental concerns, the fetish priest also used the platform to call for stronger cultural education in schools and urged the Ghana Education Service to include both traditional knowledge and sustainable agriculture in the curriculum.
“Let us teach our children to value the land and their culture. Let them learn how to grow food naturally and how to protect the environment. That is how we build a better future,” he concluded.
His passionate appeal has since sparked dialogue among stakeholders, with many calling for a national conversation on sustainable agriculture, food safety, and environmental conservation.
