Eleven Companies and Two Banks on Tuesday donated to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture towards this year’s 28th National Farmers Day Celebration in Accra.

The 2012 Farmers Day Celebration would be held at Abokobi in the Ga East Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, under the theme: GROW MORE FOOD: “Strengthening Farmer Based Organizations for Market Place Bargaining Power”.

The Banks includes the Bank of Ghana (BOG), which donated GHC30,000 and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), which also presented keys to a three Bedroom House mean for the 2012 Best Farmer at a location of his or her choice.

The Companies includes Francopat Company Limited GHC10,500, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited GHC10,000, Interplast Ghana Limited GHC10,000, Radio XYZ GHC20, 000 worth of Airtime, Ghana Shippers Association GHC5,000 and the Ghana Re-insurance Company Limited GHC5,000.

The others are Melcom Ghana Limited, which presented 25 Water Buckets, three weighing scales and 25 cartons of Derbi Apple Drinks, Exim Guarantee Limited GHC5,000, Frankatson Company Limited GHC5,000 and the Ghana Seed Producers Association.

Nii Amasah Namoale, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, in-charge of Fisheries, said the Ministry was targeting to spend GHC3.8 million in the 2012 farmers celebration, adding, “I hope the Ministry would hit its target with the compliment of the donations.”

He appealed to corporate bodies in the country to emulate the example of the companies and thanked the donors for their contribution towards the success of the celebration.

Mr. Randy Barnes, Regional Vice President for Environment and Social Responsibility of Newmont, said the company’s contribution was for the sponsorship of the celebration, adding that, “Every year Newmont donates to all the districts where we operate and this year we have expanded it to the national level.”

Mr. Adam Sulley, Executive Head of Retail Banking at the ADB said the Bank had always been the lead sponsor of the Farmers Day Celebration and would continue to sponsor the celebration every year.

Mr. Thomas Tetteh, Officer at the Secretaries Department of the BOG said the Bank recognizes the contribution of farmers in Ghana and the contribution was to show the Central Banks appreciation of the Ghanaian farmers.