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The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has called for a bold and coordinated shift from traditional subsistence farming to a modern, sustainable and globally competitive agri-food economy capable of guaranteeing food security and economic growth for Ghana.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 Annual Conference of the Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists (GAAE) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Thursday, November 6, Hon. Opoku described the conference theme, “Transforming Agri-Food Systems in Developing Economies through Sustainable Agribusiness Development,” as timely and reflective of one of the biggest opportunities facing the country.
He noted that agriculture continues to be the backbone of Ghana’s economy, contributing about 20 percent to the national GDP and employing nearly one-third of the country’s workforce, while over 70 percent of rural households depend on the sector for their livelihoods.
Despite its central role, the Minister lamented the persistent challenges confronting the sector, including low productivity, post-harvest losses of up to 30 percent, and an increasing food import bill currently exceeding US$3 billion, largely from rice, poultry, and processed foods.
“The challenge before us is not simply to produce more food, but to transform our entire agri-food system, ensuring that the process is profitable, inclusive and environmentally responsible,” he said.
Hon. Opoku observed that Africa’s food and agribusiness market is projected to surpass US$1 trillion by 2030, adding that Ghana’s share of that market will depend on how effectively it builds strong value chains, fosters innovation and drives investment in sustainable agribusiness.
Policy Direction
The Minister outlined two flagship government initiatives designed to accelerate agricultural transformation “the Feed Ghana Policy and the 24-Hour Economy Policy.”
He explained that the Feed Ghana Policy aims to strengthen domestic food production by expanding access to quality seeds, irrigation, mechanisation services, post-harvest infrastructure and agro-processing facilities.
Touching on the 24-Hour Economy initiative, Hon. Opoku said the policy seeks to boost productivity by promoting round-the-clock operations in food logistics, processing and storage to reduce delays, enhance market efficiency and create more jobs.
Role of Academia and Youth
The Minister urged agricultural economists, researchers and academia to provide evidence-based insights to inform government policy and investment decisions, while ensuring that research outcomes are translated into practical industry solutions.
He emphasised the importance of engaging Ghana’s youthful population in agricultural modernization through the use of digital technologies, innovation hubs and agribusiness entrepreneurship.
Climate and Sustainability
Hon. Opoku also expressed concern about the growing impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity, citing increasing crop losses in recent years. He reaffirmed government’s commitment to promoting climate-smart agriculture, efficient water management and soil health restoration as part of efforts to build a resilient agricultural sector.
Partnerships Essential
The Minister appealed for stronger collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, investors, development partners and academia to drive Ghana’s agri-food transformation agenda.
“This conference is more than an academic event, it is a call to action. The decisions we make today will shape the food systems of tomorrow.” He stated.
Hon. Opoku commended the leadership of GAAE for their continued contribution to agricultural policy dialogue and expressed confidence that discussions from the conference will help strengthen Ghana’s path toward a sustainable and competitive agri-food economy.
Elvisanokyenews.net/ Emmanuel Anyigba, Parliamentary Correspondent Bryt TV
