According to information provided by John Dumelo, he employs between 300 and 400 people annually for his farming operations.
The actor-turned-politician, who is also a farmer, told Kumasi’s Nhyira FM that he enjoys providing a living for so many Ghanaians.
“I do not get any support from the government; I finance whatever I am doing on the farm. I hope to receive support from the government and trust I will be called on board.
“It is very costly because I use my own money to pay all the workers I have employed; for instance, when it is time for harvesting, you have to pay those who uproot and all the value chain, but I am happy about it because I have created employment for others. I am able to employ 300–400 workers annually,” adomonline.com quotes Dumelo as saying.
He ran for parliament as the opposition NDC’s candidate in Ayewaso West Wuogon in the 2020 elections, and he has expressed interest in serving the district in 2024.
He bemoaned the large fertile lands that are withering away in Ghana and the expensive importation of food that could be produced locally to feed the country.
“When you get to our supermarkets, most of the fruits, ginger, and other stuff are imported, which should not be allowed because if we sit idle, one day we will import eggs,” he predicted.
“Farming is now expensive, but we have the Volta River, Tunu Dam, and other big streams that can be used for irrigation in agriculture in the country. Hence, if we start irrigation farming on tomatoes, maize, and onions, it will reduce our shortage of those items.”
Dumelo recalled what inspired him to pursue farming in addition to his acting and political careers: “Ten years ago, I was driving to the Northern part of Ghana and saw huge fertile fields on the roadside, which can help the country farm and have more foodstuff to sustain the country. So, I made up my mind to zoom into farming,”
The idea that agriculture is unprofitable and just for old people, he continued, is incorrect because, when done effectively, it can be a significant source of income.
Dumelo has amassed a sizeable fortune through agriculture and constantly exhorts the youth to follow in his footsteps. He claimed that agriculture will have a place in his 2024 plan.
