Best Farmer Dr. Boahen Job Calls for End to “Weeding as Punishment” in Schools

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Best Farmer Dr. Boahen Job Calls for End to “Weeding as Punishment” in Schools

Konongo, Asante Akim Central Municipality – December 6, 2025 – Dr. Boahen Job, a PhD holder in Accounting, senior Audit Service officer and the newly crowned Best Livestock Farmer in the just-concluded Municipal Farmers’ Day celebration in Asante Akim Central, has strongly appealed to authorities to immediately stop the practice of using weeding as a form of punishment in Ghanaian schools.

Speaking in an exclusive interview after receiving his award, Dr. Boahen, who rears cattle, sheep, goats, guinea fowls, chickens and other livestock, said the long-standing tradition of sending misbehaving students to weed school compounds has created a deep-seated negative perception about farming from childhood.

“This perception starts from infancy. When a student misbehaves, the teacher gives them weeding as punishment. That child grows up associating farming with torment and punishment, so when they become adults they never want to venture into agriculture,” Dr. Boahen explained.

He stressed that farming is a noble and highly lucrative profession, declaring, “If you go into farming and you take it seriously, you are a millionaire.”

The award-winning farmer, who combines his professional career in accounting and auditing with large-scale livestock production, urged the government to direct Agricultural Extension Officers to intensify public education to change the narrative that agriculture is only for the uneducated.

“Agriculture is not for dumb people as many assume. Agriculture comes from the universe; without it human beings cannot survive,” he emphasised.

Dr. Boahen further called on Ghanaians to embrace “value chain” development in agriculture, advocating for widespread food processing facilities across the country.

“There should be processing for all foodstuff. When farmers send their produce to market and the surplus rots, the farmer regrets and feels discouraged. If we process the surplus, it will not only prevent waste but will employ a lot of people when the technology is implemented,” he stated.

Also speaking at the event, Nana Amofa Sakyi III, Sanaahene of Konongo-Odumase Traditional Area, who emerged as the overall Best Cocoa Farmer with 27 acres of cocoa farm, lamented the helplessness of traditional authorities in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey).

“Now kings and chiefs don’t have the upper hand to deal with galamsey issues. If you see someone doing galamsey and you approach them, they will show you documents from the government, and there is nothing you can do,” Nana Amofa Sakyi disclosed.

He revealed that the once-effective “Palace Police” system has been taken over by the state, leaving traditional leaders powerless.

“It is now only the government that can fight galamsey. We are pleading with them to do everything possible to protect our lands for us as farmers,” the award-winning cocoa farmer appealed.

The two award winners used the Farmers’ Day platform to urge a complete mindset shift towards agriculture, insisting that with the right perception, policies and infrastructure, farming remains one of the surest paths to wealth creation and national development.