Jul 13, 2026
The National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) has intensified efforts to secure additional storage facilities as it prepares for the next phase of the N
The programme is a government intervention designed to purchase surplus grains for storage and future use, while reducing post-harvest losses and protecting the livelihoods of local farmers.
Its initial rollout was hampered by inadequate funding and a shortage of suitable storage facilities, leaving many rice and maize farmers unable to sell their produce during periods of bumper harvests.
To address the challenge, NAFCO Chief Executive Officer, George Abradu-Otoo, has embarked on a nationwide tour to engage with state institutions to expand the country’s storage infrastructure.
During a two-day working visit to the Volta, Oti and Greater Accra regions, Mr Abradu-Otoo inspected a dilapidated 15,000-metric-ton warehouse in Tema owned by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
Discussions are ongoing between NAFCO and the Ministry regarding the rehabilitation of the facility to support rice aggregation within the Shai Hills–Asutuare enclave.
At Juapong, the CEO inspected a warehouse at the defunct Volta Star Textiles Limited. Rehabilitation works have already begun following discussions between NAFCO and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness.
In Hohoe, Mr Abradu-Otoo assessed the condition of a 1,000-metric-ton warehouse constructed under the One District, One Warehouse initiative.
He directed that weeds be cleared, minor repairs undertaken and access routes improved to enable the facility to become operational immediately.
The NAFCO team also visited a 1,000-metric-ton warehouse in Pai-Katanga, Oti Region, with Regional Minister John Gyapong. The facility requires vegetation clearance and minor repairs before it can be put to use.
As part of the tour, the NAFCO delegation visited several senior high schools, including OLA Girls SHS in Ho, Worawora SHS, Kpando Technical Institute and EP Senior High School in Hohoe.
While school authorities reported that food supplies were adequate, they highlighted inadequate storage space as a major challenge in preserving food commodities.
The Regional Ministers for Volta and Oti, James Gunu and John Gyapong, commended NAFCO’s efforts to strengthen food security while protecting farmers’ incomes.
The latest tour follows similar visits undertaken earlier this year to the Eastern, Ashanti, Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Bono regions as NAFCO continues its nationwide drive to expand Ghana’s food storage capacity.
Jul 7, 2026
President John Dramani Mahama has visited the Belarusian industrial city of Brest as part of his state visit to Belarus, seeking to deepen cooperation in agriculture and explore solutions to strengthen Ghana’s food production and agro-processing sectors.
According to a statement from the Presidency, President Mahama toured one of Belarus’ largest agro-processing facilities, where he examined advanced dairy production technologies and processing systems used in the manufacture of baby food, milk, cheese, and milk powder for both domestic and international markets.
The President was received by Brest Governor Piotr Alexandrovich Parkhomchik and senior officials of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry.
Accompanied by his Advisor and Special Aide, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, and Ghana’s Ambassador to Moscow, Dr. Koma Steem Jehu-Appiah, President Mahama observed the company’s high-tech production processes and engaged management on opportunities for collaboration between Ghana and Belarus.
Speaking after the tour, President Mahama said Ghana was looking to leverage Belarus’ expertise as part of efforts to modernise its agricultural sector and achieve greater food self-sufficiency.
“We are here to tap into Belarus’ vast experience as we work to make Ghana self-sufficient in food production,” he said.
The President noted that reducing post-harvest losses remains a major priority for his administration, adding that the visit aimed to identify practical technological solutions that could help Ghanaian farmers preserve and add value to their produce.
According to the Presidency, the government is seeking to accelerate the transition from smallholder farming to large-scale commercial agriculture through the adoption of modern processing technologies and improved agricultural infrastructure.
The Managing Director of the agro-processing company, Aleksandr Savchits, said the firm generated more than $1.4 billion in revenue last year and has recently begun exporting dairy products to Ghana.
He expressed optimism about expanding exports to the Ghanaian market as economic and trade relations between the two countries continue to grow.
Savchits added that the company was interested in strengthening commercial ties with Ghana and exploring new opportunities for cooperation in the agricultural and food-processing sectors.
President Mahama used the occasion to invite Belarusian investors to partner with Ghanaian businesses and industry associations, stressing that such collaborations could create jobs, boost industrial growth, and enhance food security in Ghana.
The visit forms part of broader efforts by Ghana and Belarus to deepen bilateral cooperation in agriculture, industry, and trade.
Belarus is widely recognised as one of the world’s leading exporters of dairy products, including milk powder, butter, and cheese, with its dairy industry serving markets across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Source: GNA
Jul 7, 2026
The Kingdom of Morocco has donated 2,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser to Ghana to support efforts aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and strengthening food security under the government’s flagship Feed Ghana initiative.
The donation, the second in a series, was officially presented at a brief ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.
Speaking at the event, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said the gesture reflects the deepening bilateral relations between Ghana and Morocco, as well as their shared commitment to strengthening agricultural resilience and food security, particularly in the wake of tensions in the Middle East.
“President John Dramani Mahama is investing in agriculture, particularly with the Feed Ghana Programme, in irrigation, improved seedlings and ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ and other programmes to boost agricultural production. This donation is coming at an opportune time where we seek to boost agricultural production and improve our capacity for food security,” he said.
Ghana and Morocco have in recent years strengthened cooperation across several sectors, with agriculture emerging as a key area of partnership.
Morocco, which holds some of the world’s largest phosphate reserves and is a major global fertiliser producer, has positioned itself as a strategic partner for African countries seeking to enhance agricultural productivity.
Jul 7, 2026
Government says it is repositioning agriculture as a modern and commercially viable sector to drive economic growth, create jobs and strengthen Ghana’s food security as part of its broader development agenda.
According to the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, agriculture remains the backbone of the economy, contributing not only to food production but also to employment, industrial development and foreign exchange earnings.
Speaking at the launch of the 42nd National Farmers’ Day Celebration in Accra, Eric Opoku said the country’s economic transformation will depend on sustained investment in agriculture.
“Agriculture remains the foundation of Ghana’s development. It feeds our people, employs our youth, provides raw materials for industry, earns foreign exchange, supports rural economies and gives meaning to our national aspiration for increasing growth. No country has achieved true transformation by neglecting agriculture.”
The Minister said government is determined to make farming more attractive to young people while creating a sector that is profitable for farmers and dependable for local industries.
“No nation can secure its future while depending helplessly on others for the food that it can produce. That is why under the vision of His Excellency the President, government is working to reposition agriculture as a modern, profitable and top-grading enterprise. We are determined to make agriculture attractive to the youth, rewarding to farmers, reliable for industry and dependable for our dear nation.”
This year’s 42nd National Farmers’ Day, themed “Our Farmers, Our Food, Our Future,” will be celebrated in Sunyani in the Bono Region on Friday, December 4, 2026. Activities lined up for the celebration include a national agricultural fair, a farmers’ forum, innovation and research exhibitions, regional showcase events and the National Farmers’ Awards.
Eric Opoku said the theme reflects government’s belief that investing in farmers is ultimately an investment in Ghana’s future.
“The future of Ghana is tied to the strength of our farmers. It tells us that when we support the farmer, we secure our food. When we secure our food, we protect our people. And when we protect our people, we safeguard the future of our nation.”
Jul 6, 2026
Since the global pandemic, COVID-19 struck in 2019, the issue of food security globally has been a major concern.
Coupled with the devastating effect of climate change on food production, a number of measures have been adopted at various country level to contain the situation.
It was in the light of this that the Emergency Support to Rural Livelihoods & Food Systems Exposed to COVID-19 (ESRF) project was introduced by the government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on smallholder farmers and food systems in 2019.
Funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), this initiative aims to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on vulnerable populations and maintain food security in the country.
Project goals:
The overall goal of the ESRF project is to protect the livelihoods, incomes, and resilience of target groups from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
Through its three main components and various sub-components, the project aims to protect against hunger, build resilient livelihoods, and strengthen rural marketing linkages and food security in the country.
Financing and partnerships:
The total funding for the project is $40.1 million. The breakdown of the amount includes an IFAD loan of $20.0 million, an estimated co-financing from the Government of Ghana (through exemptions on taxes and duties) amounting to $5.3 million, representing 12.6 per cent of the total cost.
Additionally, there is a beneficiary contribution of $11.2 million, which represents 27 per cent of the total cost, and contributions from other development partners such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the Government of Canada (GoC), among others.
Key interventions
The ESRF project demonstrates the commitment of the government and its partners to safeguard vulnerable populations and maintain food security amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
Over the past three years, the ESRF project has made significant strides in addressing the challenges faced by smallholder farmers and food systems in the country.
As the project draws its curtains down in August this year, four years since it was introduced, a number of smallholder farmers and families have been impacted positively.
For instance, the project has provided personal protective equipment (PPEs) to various departments and facilities, as well as sensitization campaigns and billboards to raise awareness about COVID-19 prevention measures.
In all, a total of 26,700 agric supply chain actors in 61 districts have been supported with PPEs and sensitization, while about 24,782 smallholder farmers across 14 regions have received agricultural inputs such as fertilizer and improved seeds for rice, maize, soya, and vegetables.
This has helped maintain and increase their production, food security, and climate change resilience.
Cash transfers have been provided to about 4,790 vulnerable beneficiaries, including 19 per cent females and five per cent persons with disabilities, to overcome hunger and prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Current project intervention
Poultry intervention aims to improve the livelihoods and nutrition security of targeted households by supporting smallholder farmers with production packs, training, and best broiler management practices across 11 districts in the Ashanti, Bono, Greater Accra, and Volta regions.
Digital extension support is promoting digital extension services through private and public extension agents, focusing on crop production practices, food conservation/preservation, and animal production practices.
Smallholder processing groups, particularly women and youth groups, are being supported with livelihood equipment and training to enhance their capacity in the conservation, preservation, and processing of food.
The project is constructing water harvesting schemes, commodity drying platforms, and boreholes in selected districts to promote environmentally friendly practices, conserve water resources, and optimize post-harvest processes for higher-quality rice production.
These interventions demonstrate the ESRF project’s commitment to addressing the challenges faced by rural livelihoods and food systems in Ghana, fostering resilience, and ensuring food security amidst the ongoing pandemic and climate change.
Working in synergy
Before the assumption of office by Dr. Bryan Acheampong as the Minister of Food and Agriculture, many projects in the agriculture sector were running in an uncoordinated manner. It took the efforts of the minister to ensure the agricultural sector thrived.
To achieve this, it was crucial to coordinate and harmonize projects within the sector to work together towards a common objective.
In addressing this phenomenon Dr. Bryan needed the sector to bounce back strongly and so, he consequently carried out an assessment of ongoing projects, to help in understanding the status and areas that needed improvement.
The outcome guided the steps that were taken to ensure that projects under the sector including the ESRF were aligned with the overall objectives of the agricultural sector to be executed through the Planting for Food and Jobs Phase II (PFJ 2.0).
At the end of the day, the necessary adjustments were made to ensure that the projects worked in synergy and contributed to a common objective.
