The Northern Regional Peace Council has presented certified seeds of maize, soya bean and sorghum, to returnees who were affected by the demolition exercise at Old Fadama in Accra, and advised them to venture into Agriculture, to remain productive.

Osofo Patrick Appulah, a Member of the Northern Region Peace Council, presented the certified seeds on behalf of the Council to the Northern Regional Coordinating Council in Tamale for onward distribution to the returnees.

He said Agriculture was a very profitable venture, which could earn the returnees positive living standards, instead of wasting their energies, reminding them that “the devil finds work for the idle hands”.

Osofo Appulah, who is also the Managing Director of Savana Seeds Company, based in the Northern Region, said the donation was aimed at encouraging the returnees to pursue activities in the agricultural value chain, explaining that even though the rains delayed this year in the northern regions, the certified seeds were high yielding varieties which matured within 120 days.

He said it was regrettable that despite the huge potentials that the northern parts of Ghana presented in food production, many people still migrated to other parts of the country searching for non-existent jobs.

He said farming remained the main source of employment and income for majority of the people in Northern Ghana, saying, “We are encouraging victims who returned home to take up activities in agricultural value chain as their source of livelihood”.

Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, who received the certified seeds commended the Peace Council for their efforts which he said would complement activities and initiatives government was undertaking to reintegrate the returnees.

He said government had taken a lot of measures to integrate the returnees to ensure that they lived meaningfully in their societies.

Alhaji Fuseini advised the returnees to refrain from doing anything unlawful, since the law would not countenance such practices.