The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has inaugurated two key boards — the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority Board and the Fertilizer Council — as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural productivity under the Feed Ghana Programme.

The 10-member Irrigation Development Authority Board will oversee irrigation nationwide, with a focus on promoting year-round farming through the rehabilitation of existing schemes and the development of new ones. 

On the other hand, the seven-member Fertilizer Council, will ensure farmers receive the right types of fertilizer suited to specific soil conditions across different regions, supported by expanded soil testing. 

Event

The two boards were inaugurated at separate ceremonies held in Accra on Tuesday, December 30, by the Deputy Minister, John Setor Dumelo, who urged members to work diligently to improve farm output across the country.

The events brought together key industry stakeholders, as well as family members and well-wishers of the board members.

Membership

Members of the Fertilizer Council include former Member of Parliament for the Madina Constituency, Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho (Chairman), Director of CSIR–SRI, Dr Collins Tay, Director of Crop Services at MOFA, Dr Solomon Gyan Ansah and Director of the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD), Eric Bentsil Quaye.

The other members are Edmund C. Joseph (Environmental Protection Agency representative), Michael Tetteh Kwetey, and Emmanuel Ekow Arhin.

Members of the Irrigation Development Board are Kasuli-Lana Aziz Yakubu Bukari (Chairman), Director of CSIR, Prof. Mike Yaw Osei-Atweneboah, Representative from Ministry of Finance, Afua Brown-Pobee, Dr Samuel Kumahor of University of Ghana, Department of Soil Science, GIDA CEO, Eric Samuel Adu-Dankwa, Representative from Ghana Water Ltd, Michael Boke-Baidoo, Director of CSIR-SRI, Dr Collins Tay, Tamenaa, Saibu Braimah and Director of Crop Services at MOFA, Dr Solomon Gyan Ansah .

Confidence

Mr Dumelo expressed confidence that the work of both boards will help sustain recent food surpluses and support even higher production levels in the coming year, aided by the establishment of agro-processing factories nationwide.

He stressed that irrigation is central to boosting food production and ensuring farmers can farm throughout the year while adding that water and fertilizer must work together to improve yields.

John Setor Dumelo (middle), Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture with four members of the Fertilizer Council.

“All-year-round farming depends heavily on effective irrigation, and your board is therefore central to the delivery of this mandate. The Ministry will provide the necessary support to ensure that the President’s agenda for economic transformation is successfully achieved. I wish you all the best in your work, and I congratulate you. Thank you very much,” the Deputy Minister said.

He stressed that irrigation remains a key pillar of the Feed Ghana Programme, noting that year-round farming is only possible with reliable irrigation systems.

“Under the Feed Ghana Programme, we are ensuring that irrigation is an integral component. We are promoting all-year-round farming, and this depends largely on irrigation. The board is therefore responsible for overseeing irrigation, and we hope they will work diligently to ensure that most irrigation schemes across the country are rehabilitated and new ones developed,” he said.

Addressing the Fertilizer Council, the Deputy Minister expressed confidence in its ability to improve fertilizer use nationwide.

“We expect the Council to ensure that farmers receive the right type of fertilizer for the right kind of soil. In the past, the same fertilizer was applied across different soil types, but now extensive soil testing is being carried out." 

"What is suitable for the Western Region may be different from what is needed in the North or the South, and I trust the Fertilizer Council to do an excellent job in this regard,” he added.

Principled leadership

In his acceptance speech, Alhaji Amadu Bukari Sorogho has pledged to provide committed and principled leadership as Chairman of Ghana’s National Fertilizer Council, describing his appointment as a call to national service in support of food security and agricultural transformation.

Placing farmers at the centre of the council’s work, Sorogho stressed that improved access to affordable fertilizer would boost productivity, raise incomes, and strengthen national food security, expressing optimism that collaboration with government and stakeholders would deliver lasting results.

"We will support policies that encourage local fertilizer manufacturing. That is very, very, very important. How Ghana as an agricultural country, Mr Minister, we don't have any factory that is manufacturing," he said.

"Above all, we place the Ghanaian farmer at the center of our work. When farmers have timely access to quality fertilizers at affordable prices, productivity increases, incomes rise, and national food security is strengthened. That is the outcome that we seek," he added.