Suhum (E/R), Jan. 18, GNA- Mr. Hansen Yaw-Kuma Gbeve, was adjudged the best Agriculture Extension Agent (AEA) for the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District for the year 2007 at an award ceremony at Suhum on Friday.

Mr. Gbeve, a Senior Vertinary Technical Officer was presented with a 21-inch colour television set as his award. Speaking at the function, the Eastern Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr George Ocloo said from this year, his office would not conduct interviews for the selection of the regional best AEAs. Rather the three AEAs who would produce the three best farmers that the region would present for consideration for national award automatically qualified for consideration for regional and national best AEAs award.

He called on AEAs in the region to work diligently so that the farmers who work with them would always be prepared to defend them and show appreciation for the work of the Ministry. Mr. Ocloo said he appreciated the difficult conditions under which the AEAs in the region work and assured them and all staff of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture that when resources were made available, he would ensure that everybody got his due. The District Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Kwarfo Akoto said this year, the Local Government Service would come into force and under it, all decentralized departments, with the exception of the staff of Ministry of Health and the Ghana Education Service, would be expected to join it. He said sometime ago, civil servants enjoyed high respect among workers of the country but due to some poor performance and unacceptable work ethics put up by a few civil servants, the service lost that good image.

Mr. Akoto therefore, called for hard work and change of altitude towards work, if the service was to regain its lost image. The District Director of Agriculture, Mr Samuel Yaovi Dotse, said last year, the district produced the best regional AEA and called on the staff of the Ministry to take their work very serious. He urged the AEAs to be self-motivated to be able to move with the times to help the farmers to get the best technology and knowledge in the agriculture business. 18 Jan. 08