Story By: Nii Okpoti Odamtten / Muhammad Faisal Mustapha…
In a decisive affirmation of Ghana’s agricultural future, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang has lauded the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for what she describes as a “deliberate and forward looking transformation agenda” aimed at repositioning the sector as a cornerstone of national prosperity.
During a high level working visit to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Vice President commended the leadership of Minister Eric Opoku and his team for driving a paradigm shift from subsistence farming to a modern, competitive, and commercially viable agribusiness ecosystem.
Her visit comes at a critical moment when Ghana, like many nations, is confronting the dual pressures of food insecurity and economic restructuring. Against this backdrop, Prof. Opoku Agyemang emphasized that agriculture must not merely survive but thrive.
“Agriculture must evolve beyond survival into a strategic engine of growth one that empowers people, creates wealth, and secures our future,” she stated.
Central to the Ministry’s transformation agenda is a deliberate focus on inclusivity particularly the empowerment of women, youth, and vulnerable populations.
The Vice President underscored that such an approach is not only socially responsible but economically essential.
“When we invest in women and vulnerable groups within agriculture, we are investing in the stability and resilience of entire communities,” she noted.
She further reiterated that food security remains non negotiable, describing it as a foundational pillar upon which national development must be built.
“Ghana must move with urgency and purpose toward food self sufficiency. Our future depends on it.”
The Ministry outlined a suite of targeted interventions designed to tackle longstanding structural challenges while unlocking new growth opportunities.
Among the flagship initiatives is the Feed Ghana Programme an ambitious effort to boost domestic food production and reduce reliance on imports. Complementing this is the strengthening of the National Food Buffer Stock system, aimed at stabilizing prices and ensuring consistent food availability.
Other critical interventions include:
• Expansion of irrigation infrastructure to support year round farming
• Intensification of vegetable production to meet both local and export demand
• Investment in soil and crop testing to improve yields and sustainability
• Development of robust agricultural value chains through processing and market access
• Revitalization of Ghana’s poultry industry to reduce import dependency
Minister Hon. Eric Opoku emphasized that these initiatives are anchored on making agriculture both attractive and profitable.
“We are repositioning agriculture as a business one that generates jobs, drives industrial growth, and delivers sustainable livelihoods for our farmers,” he stated.
A key highlight of the Vice President’s address was her call for stronger collaboration with research institutions, particularly the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), to harness scientific innovation and indigenous expertise.
She also stressed the strategic importance of building local capacity in agricultural mechanization.
“Sustainability lies in our ability to design, assemble, and maintain our own agricultural machinery. Ghanaian ingenuity must be at the heart of this transformation,” she asserted.
Reaffirming government’s commitment, Prof. Opoku Agyemang assured stakeholders of continued policy support and enhanced coordination across institutions.
“This is not just a sectoral priorityit is a national imperative. Together, we will build a resilient, productive, and self-sufficient agricultural economy.”
The engagement concluded with a shared sense of urgency and optimism an acknowledgment that while challenges remain, the path toward a transformed agricultural sector is firmly in motion.
“Food self sufficiency is not optional it is essential to Ghana’s future.”
