The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Honourable Eric Opoku, has highlighted the pivotal role agriculture plays in Ghana’s economy and the government’s vision to transform the sector into a major driver of employment and industrial growth.

He noted that agriculture contributed nearly 30 per cent of Ghana’s GDP and provided livelihoods for about 24 per cent of the workforce, with rural households heavily engaged in farming.

“Historically, the sector has operated largely as a low-productivity, smallholder-dominated activity. This has limited its potential to generate sustainable jobs, especially for our young people. 

Policy dialogue

Speaking as a panellist in the high-level global policy dialogue on job creation in Africa held in Rome, Italy, Mr Opoku stated that, “each year, about 160,000 youths enter the labour market, making it imperative to modernise agriculture and expand opportunities along the value chain.”

The forum, convened under the Mattei Plan for Africa in collaboration with the World Bank Group and Banca d’Italia, was held on the theme: “Laying the groundwork for jobs in Africa: Core infrastructure & business environment”.

The summit brought together global leaders, policymakers, and development partners to discuss strategies for accelerating economic growth and creating sustainable employment opportunities across Africa.

Ket strategic interventions

Mr Opoku outlined the government’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), a comprehensive policy framework aimed at modernising the sector and fostering industrial linkages.

He explained that the agenda was being implemented through the Feed Ghana Programme (FGP), which sought to boost food production to meet domestic demand while supplying raw materials to agro-processing industries.

“The programme is complemented by Ghana’s proposed 24-Hour Economy Policy, designed to expand industrial activity and processing capacity, thereby creating sustained demand for agricultural raw materials. Our strategy is simple.

“When farmers have access to inputs, markets, and infrastructure, they invest more. Reliable demand encourages expansion, and jobs multiply across the agricultural value chain,” he explained.

The minister emphasised that Ghana was moving from farming as a subsistence activity to farming as a business and agribusiness enterprise, strengthening the link between agriculture and industry.

He highlighted key strategic interventions currently being implemented, including expanding irrigation and water management systems to transition from rain-fed to year-round farming, ensuring a consistent supply for agro-processing industries.

“The government is also investing in the construction of 1,000 kilometres of farm roads to improve market access, reduce transportation costs, and minimise post-harvest losses,” he told the international gathering.

He added that the national food storage systems were being strengthened through the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), which normally purchases surplus produce during peak harvests and releases it during lean periods, protecting both farmers and consumers.