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The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Dr..Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has been enskinned as the President of Agriculture in the Savannah Region.

The honour was conferred on him by Yabonwura Tutumbabori Assa 11, Paramount Chief of Damango on behalf of all the 25 Paramount Chiefs in the region for his exemplary leadership culminating in the unprecedented growth and improvement in the agricultural sector.

The Chiefs cited the successful implementation of the governments agricultural flagship policies, notably the Planting for Food and Jobs,(PFJ) Planting for Export and Rural Development(PERD), Rearing for Food and Jobs, amongst others, which they had tremendously impacted on the lives of many rural communities in the country.

Yabonwura Tutumbabori Assa 11 said they were impressed with the personal commitment of the Minister and the Government in general in ensuring the development of the agricultural sector and improvement of the lives of farmers.

"Mr. Minister, today we want to honour you for your good works as the President of Agriculture in our region. You have really done enough for us and the entire farming communities in the country" the Paramount Chief emphasized.

The Chief however decried the phenomenon of excessive politicking in the country's democratic governance, stressing that the development does not inure to the benefit of the citizenry.

The Yagbonwura made reference to recent attempts by some section of the public, notably the NDC, to twist some comments made by the Agric Minister, ostensibly to incite people of the northern region against and the government, describing it as dangerous and inimical to the development of the country.

He therefore charged politicians to refrain from politics of diviciveness and instead focus on what unites as one people.

The Minister on his part, emphasized that it was very unfortunate that his comments were misinterpreted and added that he would never in his life denigrate northerners or for that matter any group of people.

"I want to state emphatically that I have never and will never in any way insult northerners. I was only highlighting the benefits the PFJ programme has brought to Ghanaians. I did not insult anyone. It's the NDC that are seeking to sow seed of discord just for political propaganda" the Minister explained.