The three-day forum was on the theme: “Partnering for Prosperity: Strengthening Market Linkages for All. The forum brought together government officials, private sector players, development partners, financial institutions, farmer groups, and market actors along the agricultural value chain. It was organised in partnership with Farm Concern International, Fairtrade Africa, Pangea Africa, and Esoko, with sponsorship from the Ghana Commodity Exchange.

The event featured panel discussions and thematic sessions on inclusive market systems, financing for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and digital agriculture marketplaces, alongside exhibitions showcasing innovative products, services, and inclusive business models. 

Dr Tinah Tusiime Mukundah, the National Director of World Vision Ghana, in her opening remarks, described the forum as a critical platform to build resilient and sustainable livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable households. She said the initiative aligned with the organisation’s broader goal of improving child well-being, noting that, “a child cannot thrive in a household that lacks fair access to economic opportunities.” 

Dr Mukundah explained that the Everyone THRIVE programme, launched in 2024, targets about 160,000 households and aims to double the incomes of over 400,000 people within three years. She said the programme focused on equipping households with the capabilities, connections, and confidence to rise permanently above the poverty line through partnerships with government, private sector, civil society, and development actors. 

“We see farmers, savings groups, producer groups, and young agripreneurs not as beneficiaries, but as partners and co-creators of development,” she stated. Dr Mukundah urged private sector actors and financial institutions to develop inclusive models that recognise smallholder farmers as viable and investable partners, stressing that inclusive sourcing would help build resilient supply chains. She also called on the government to create an enabling policy environment that prioritised smallholder market access, rural infrastructure, agricultural insurance, and fair pricing systems. 

She emphasised the need for alignment and coordination among development partners to avoid duplication of efforts while building on existing community systems. Citing projections by the African Development Bank, she noted that Africa’s food and agribusiness market was expected to reach one trillion US dollars by 2030, and urged stakeholders to position Ghana to take advantage of the opportunity. 

Mr Ali Adolf John, Northern Regional Minister, commended World Vision Ghana and its partners for convening the forum, describing it as timely and strategic. He noted that agriculture remained the backbone of the region’s economy but was constrained by limited market access, inadequate financing, weak infrastructure, and poor coordination among value chain actors. “To transform our agricultural sector and create sustainable livelihoods, we must move beyond working in silos and strengthen linkages between producers, aggregators, processors, buyers, and financial institutions,” he said. 

Mr John reaffirmed government’s commitment to developing inclusive market systems through policies and programmes aimed at improving access to productive assets, strengthening extension services, enhancing post-harvest management, and expanding market opportunities. He stressed the importance of public-private partnerships, noting that while government provided the enabling environment, the private sector contributed capital, innovation, and market efficiency. 

The Regional Minister highlighted persistent constraints, including limited access to affordable finance, inconsistent input supply, and inadequate rural infrastructure such as feeder roads, storage, and processing facilities as some challenges confronting the agricultural sector. He called for collective action, including blended finance models to de-risk agricultural investments, private sector-led input systems, and targeted public investments to improve infrastructure. He urged participants to move beyond dialogue to actionable commitments that would strengthen market systems and improve livelihoods across the Northern Region. 

Ms Margaret Ansei, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Enterprises Agency, emphasised the importance of inclusion in sustainable development and called for deliberate efforts to integrate women and vulnerable groups into market systems and economic opportunities. The forum was expected to foster dialogue, strengthen collaboration among stakeholders, and generate practical solutions to address systemic challenges within Ghana’s agricultural value chains.