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President John Dramani Mahama has called for a fundamental reimagining of agriculture from a subsistence sector to a strategic engine of industrial growth, job creation and national prosperity.
Delivering the keynote address to a gathering of farmers, agribusiness operators, innovators, and policymakers at the opening ceremony of the Ghana Agrotech Fair 2026 at the Independence Square in Accra yesterday, President Mahama emphasised that agriculture must no longer be treated solely as a means of survival but as a critical pillar of economic transformation.
"Agriculture is not merely about cultivation. Agriculture is also about productivity. It is about value addition. It is about industrial development. It is about jobs and exports.
And increasingly, agriculture is about technology and innovation," he stated.
The President stressed that the future of Ghana's agriculture lay not in expanding acreage but in modernising the entire value chain, from farm to factory, and from production to global marketing.
He warned that no nation could transform its agricultural economy while depending indefinitely on imported machinery and technology, making a strong case for local manufacturing capacity.
"If Ghana is serious about agricultural transformation, we must deliberately build the capacity to design, to fabricate, adapt, maintain and scale agricultural technologies locally.
“Supporting Ghanaian manufacturers of agricultural machinery and agri-processing equipment is not simply an industrial policy choice. It is a strategic economic necessity," President Mahama said.
He announced a breakthrough in local wheat production by scientists of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), revealing that demonstration farms had produced between four and five tonnes of wheat per hectare.
"This will help us in import substitution, because Ghana imports almost $400 million worth of wheat every year," he disclosed, adding that such innovations were critical to reducing the country's import bill and building a self-reliant economy.
The President also used the occasion to rally the youth to embrace agriculture as a frontier of opportunity, noting that the modern agricultural sector required engineers, software developers, data scientists, agronomists, logistics specialists and innovators.
"Agriculture today is digital, technological and entrepreneurial," he said.
President Mahama announced the government's plan to establish 50 Farmer Service Centres across the country to provide mechanisation and extension support to farmers, as part of broader efforts to modernise agriculture and drive economic transformation.
The President said he would cut the sod for the first centre on Friday at the Afram Plains, marking the beginning of a phased rollout of the project.
"Government intends to build 50 of these centres nationwide in the main agricultural producing areas.
The first phase will cover 11 centres, and I'm breaking ground for the first one on Friday at the Afram Plains," he announced at the event.
The President explained that the centres would serve as one-stop shops where registered farmers could access mechanisation services, including tractors, ploughing, harrowing, transportation, fertilisers and grain shellers.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana EXIM Bank, Sylvester Mensah, underscored the fair's role as a catalyst for long-term economic transformation.
He explained that the event, jointly organised by the Bank and the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry at the behest of the President, was intended to be a regular platform to promote agrotech innovation and strengthen agribusiness.
"Primarily, it serves as a pedestal to showcase practical domestic agricultural technologies and solutions that can improve productivity across the entire agricultural value chain," Mr Mensah stated, adding that it also aimed to connect farmers, innovators, and investors to shape ideas into profitable business partnerships.
He further elaborated on the critical importance of agricultural technology in modernising the sector.
"Agricultural technology helps farmers produce more efficiently, reduce post-harvest losses, improve quality and increase incomes," he noted.
He emphasised that technology made agriculture more attractive to young people by illustrating that the sector was not solely about traditional farming, "but also about engineering, innovation, logistics, data, manufacturing and entrepreneurship."
The Ghana EXIM Bank CEO also highlighted the institution's commitment to building a strong export-led economy.
He stressed that agriculture did not end at the farm gates, but extended through processing, packaging, branding and distribution.
Mr Mensah called for strong collaboration with the government, financial institutions, industry and scientists, adding that "Sustainability means supporting technologies that improve productivity while protecting the environment.
It means building businesses that are profitable, inclusive, and capable of lasting beyond today."
The Ghana Agrotech Fair 2026, held on the theme "Transforming Agribusiness through Local Innovation and Technology," brings together farmers, manufacturers, innovators, and investors to showcase practical agricultural technologies and solutions.
The event aims to stimulate investment in agriculture as a crucial engine for trade, jobs and industrial growth, while enhancing visibility for Ghanaian entrepreneurs and local technological innovations that can be scaled for national and international markets.
The fair was attended by ministers of state, officials from partner institutions, representatives of agribusinesses, farmers, and innovators from across the country.
Highlighted the institution's commitment to building a strong export-led economy.
He stressed that agriculture did not end at the farm gates, but extended through processing, packaging, branding and distribution.
Mr Mensah called for strong collaboration with the government, financial institutions, industry and scientists, adding that "Sustainability means supporting technologies that improve productivity while protecting the environment. It means building businesses that are profitable, inclusive, and capable of lasting beyond today."
The Ghana Agrotech Fair 2026, held on the theme "Transforming Agribusiness through Local Innovation and Technology," brings together farmers, manufacturers, innovators, and investors to showcase practical agricultural technologies and solutions.
The event aims to stimulate investment in agriculture as a crucial engine for trade, jobs and industrial growth while enhancing visibility for Ghanaian entrepreneurs and local technological innovations that can be scaled for national and international markets.
The fair was attended by ministers of state, officials from partner institutions, representatives of agribusinesses, farmers, and innovators from across the country.
