GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to agricultural transformation, food security, and inclusive economic growth during her keynote address at the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, one of the world’s leading forums on food and agriculture.
Delivering the closing keynote, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang reflected on the enduring legacy of Dr. Norman Borlaug, whose belief that “no child should go to bed hungry” continues to guide global food security efforts. She urged world leaders to adopt that same moral compass in addressing modern agricultural challenges.
Highlighting agriculture’s pivotal role in Ghana’s development, she noted that nearly 40% of the population depends on farming for their livelihoods. Despite this, Ghana spends over USD 2 billion annually on food imports. “This must change,” she declared, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency and local productivity.
She outlined President John Dramani Mahama’s agricultural transformation vision under the Feed Ghana Programme, which targets 22 commodity value chains, including grains, legumes, vegetables, tree crops, and livestock. The initiative seeks to resolve challenges in irrigation, processing, storage, digital integration, cooperative development, and market access.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also discussed the Grow24 Programme, a core part of Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy agenda aimed at modernizing agriculture, promoting agro-manufacturing, and supporting export-ready agribusinesses. A five-year Agricultural Risk Management Strategy is also in place to stabilize key sectors such as poultry, tomato, and maize production.
She emphasized the importance of gender equity, noting that women make up more than half of Ghana’s agricultural workforce but still face barriers to land ownership, finance, and training. To address this, the government is establishing a Women’s Development Bank to provide accessible credit and empower women economically.
The Vice President further highlighted Ghana’s shift from exporting raw commodities to producing value-added agricultural products. With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) headquartered in Accra, she said Ghana is well-positioned to strengthen regional value chains and boost agro-exports.
She called on global investors, development partners, and academic institutions to collaborate with Ghana in advancing sustainable agricultural innovation.
Following her address, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang joined Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, outgoing President of the African Development Bank, in a fireside discussion on Ghana’s agricultural modernization and inclusive growth strategy.
The event ended with the presentation of the 2025 World Food Prize to Dr. Marieangela Hungria, a Brazilian agronomist celebrated for her groundbreaking work on biological nitrogen fixation—a discovery advancing global food sustainability.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s participation reaffirmed Ghana’s leadership in food systems innovation, with her message of partnership, inclusion, and transformation resonating deeply with Dr. Borlaug’s legacy.
