About eighty-six (86) paramount and sub queen mothers from across the sixteen regions of the country, together with representatives from academia, policy, government, development agencies and agric institutions, will be converging in Accra, for the 5th edition of the “Gathering of the Royals” event.
Organized by Agrihouse Foundation, the development-focused interventional event, annually, focuses on strengthening working relationships among royals, traditional and corporate leaders, towards the initiation of collaborative efforts and exploration of further opportunities within the agric sector.
Focused on the theme, “Championing Agri-growth through our Queen Mothers – The Agri booster Module,” this year’s event is expected to take place at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel in Accra, on Wednesday, February 22, 2022.
In a press statement, Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, said this year’s “Gathering of the Royals,” will pick up from where it ended last year, by examining the progress of the call the actions that were developed last year, as part of efforts to advance and influence policy directions that strengthen partnerships among traditional leaders and agric stakeholders, towards the holistic growth of the country’s agricultural sector, with much focus on the empowerment of more sustainable women farmers.
The royal panel conversations, which will be replicated again this year, will give us an opportunity to present accurate assessments of how we are all working together, as industry players to address the issues presented in the call to action communique last year, she said. They included, gender mainstreaming within the agric sector; the provision of access road from the farms, and to the markets; the need for irrigation and water sources on farmlands; sustainable provision of agric inputs; interventions for easy access to stress free finance; and sufficient availability of extension officers, among others.
The paramount queen mothers will have a chance to highlight agric modules that are proving successful and how working with relevant stakeholders is adding to the social and economic impacts they are making in their regions, districts and communities. They will have a chance also to reiterate the progress of new or continuing agricultural development initiatives they are championing in their various clans and districts, since the event last year, “At the end of the event, we are expecting to come-up with more realistic measures that can be addressed through policies and community interventions. We hope to mobilize and empower more women farmers in our rural areas, through the efforts of their queen-mothers, and their collaborations with other traditional leaders, corporate bodies, stakeholders in academia, government and development partners, among others,” Ms. Akosa emphasized.
This year, besides the eighty-six (86) Queen Mothers and Traditional Leader, the event is expected to draw about two hundred and fifty (250) participants and high profiled dignitaries from across sectors including development partners, government agencies, private institutions, academia, research associations and civil society organizations.
We are anticipating all our invited guests will honour our invitation to be part of the event this year, to make the event a highly successful one. Annually, the event is in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, COCOSHE, and the National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners Association, Ms. Akosa noted.
Corporate Sponsors, including OCP Africa, Agromonti Company Limited and Moudlyn Limited have pledged financial and technical commitment towards the success of the upcoming event.