Jun 12, 2026
President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted agriculture as a central pillar of Ghana’s development agenda and identified Belarus as a valuable partner in efforts to modernise the sector through mechanisation, technology transfer, research, and investment.
He also outlined opportunities for expanded collaboration in education, renewable energy, trade, industry, and other areas critical to sustainable economic growth.
President Mahama said these when he paid a State Visit to the Republic of Belarus. He held a tête-à-tête meeting with President Alexander Lukashenko, followed by bilateral discussions between the delegations of both countries aimed at strengthening cooperation across key sectors of their economies.
The engagements culminated in the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), marking an important step in advancing Ghana-Belarus relations. The agreements cover the establishment of a Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, collaboration between the Chambers of Commerce of both countries, and enhanced cooperation in the field of agriculture.
The MoUs were signed on behalf of Ghana by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; Ghana’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation, Mr. Jehu Appiah; and the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku.
Addressing a joint press conference after the talks, President Mahama described the visit as a significant milestone in the relationship between Ghana and Belarus, emphasizing the shared commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation based on mutual respect, equality, and practical outcomes.
President Mahama noted that the agreements signed provide a framework for stronger engagement between state institutions and the private sectors of both countries, creating new opportunities for investment, innovation, and job creation.
He expressed confidence that the outcomes of the visit would usher in a new chapter in Ghana-Belarus relations, translating shared aspirations into concrete initiatives that deliver lasting benefits for the people of both nations.
Jun 12, 2026
More than 600 young women from communities across the Savelugu Municipality gathered at the Diari School Park on June 6, 2026, for a pre-season durbar under the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Programme, signalling a growing interest among women in commercial agriculture and agribusiness.
The event, organised by Newage Agric Solutions Ltd., forms part of efforts to prepare participants for the 2026 soybean and rice production season.
The HAPPY Programme, a four-year partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and Agri-Impact Limited, is being implemented by an eight-member consortium, including Newage Agric Solutions Ltd., to create employment opportunities for young people, particularly women, in the rice, soybean, tomato and poultry value chains.
Addressing the gathering, the Diare Lana, Naa Abukari, encouraged the young women to take advantage of opportunities within the agricultural sector and position themselves as drivers of economic transformation in their communities.
The Municipal Director of Agriculture for Savelugu, Mr Baba Musah, also underscored the critical role of women in achieving food security and sustainable agricultural growth, urging participants to adopt modern farming practices and utilise extension services available under the programme.
Participants received training and guidance on production planning, input access, farm management and agronomic best practices. Extension officers and technical experts also engaged them on strategies to improve productivity and manage farming risks.
Several attendees described the initiative as an important platform that is helping to remove barriers that have historically limited women’s participation in commercial agriculture.
The General Manager of Newage Agric Solutions Ltd., Mr Martin Tettey Nartey, said the turnout reflected a growing determination among young women to view agriculture not only as a source of livelihood but as a viable business venture.
“The overwhelming turnout of over 600 young women is evidence of a growing appetite among women to embrace agriculture not only as a livelihood but as a business capable of generating wealth and creating employment,” he said.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that the programme will contribute to increased productivity, economic empowerment and long-term transformation within farming communities across the Northern Region.
Source: myjoyonline.com
Jun 11, 2026
The Director-General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Ruth Dela Seddoh, has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and agribusiness value chain to embrace innovation and modern techniques to make the sector more appealing to the youth.
Speaking at the Ghana Youth Agriculture Summit held in Sunyani on Friday, she noted that agriculture holds significant opportunities capable of addressing youth unemployment if properly harnessed through technology and modern practices.
She explained that emerging technologies are transforming farming systems and making agriculture more efficient, productive and commercially viable for the youth.
“Today, technology is changing the face of agriculture through precision farming, drone technology, smart irrigation systems, artificial intelligence, mechanised processing and value addition,” she said.
She further revealed that the National Service Authority is actively promoting agriculture through demonstration farms across 12 regions, with its Papao Farms in Accra currently managing over 90,000 birds under its poultry programme.
Jun 11, 2026
The Ministry of Finance has released GH¢1.677 billion to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in 2026, representing 85% of the ministry’s approved budget for Goods and Services, and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX).
The disclosure was made by Deputy Minister for Finance Thomas Nyarko Ampem during the launch of Ghana’s National Pact for Agricultural Transformation, Food Security, and Employment (AgriConnect Compact) on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
The announcement directly challenges claims that the Ministry of Finance has failed to provide adequate funding to key ministries and state institutions.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Nyarko Ampem said President Mahama’s administration is matching its agricultural transformation agenda with substantial financial commitments and targeted investments.
According to him, the government’s commitment to agriculture is evident in a number of flagship programmes being implemented under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.
He added that the government’s vision for agriculture extends beyond increasing production to transforming the entire agricultural value chain, improving food security, creating jobs, and strengthening economic growth.
To support this agenda, he announced that significant resources had already been released by the Ministry of Finance to fund critical interventions across the sector.
“I am pleased to confirm that we have released GH¢1.677 billion, representing 85% of the approved 2026 Budget for Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture,” he stated.
Jun 11, 2026
The Transforming Households Resilience in Vulnerable Environments (THRIVE 2030) project has set out to empower more than 800,000 people across 160,000 households, as stakeholders intensify efforts to build resilient and inclusive agribusiness value chains.
At the National Market Actors’ Forum in Tamale convened by World Vision Ghana, participants underscored the need to strengthen market linkages, improve price transparency and promote structured trading to unlock growth across the agriculture sector.
Held under the theme ‘Partnering for Prosperity: Strengthening Market Linkages for All’, the two-day forum brought together producers, processors, buyers, investors, policy-makers and development partners to deepen collaboration and drive sustainable agribusiness development.
The THRIVE 2030 initiative, supported by the Ghana Commodity Exchange and VisionFund, forms part of an eight-year strategy aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on poverty reduction, gender equality and decent work.
Director of Agribusiness at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, representing Deputy Minister Sampson Ahi, said ongoing policy reforms are aimed at de-risking agriculture and positioning the sector for value addition.
He noted that government is strengthening agribusiness policy to shift Ghana from a raw commodity exporter to a processing-driven economy, while integrating women and youth—particularly in the shea and cashew value chains—into structured markets.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Commodity Exchange, Evelyn Abakah, stressed that resilient value chains depend on adequate storage and aggregation infrastructure, as well as enforcement of standards and supportive trade policies.
She added that fair pricing, reduced financing risks and reliable supply chains are essential to sustaining competitiveness and delivering quality products to consumers.
Northern Regional Minister Ali Adolf John reiterated government’s commitment to expanding access to productive assets, improving post-harvest handling and strengthening extension services, particularly for smallholder farmers and agri-based enterprises.
National Director of World Vision Ghana, Tinah T. Mukundah, called on the private sector and financial institutions to treat rural smallholders as viable investment partners, while urging policy-makers to prioritise infrastructure, insurance and fair pricing frameworks.
She emphasised that improving household incomes remains central to child welfare, noting that economic vulnerability undermines long-term development outcomes.
Under its broader Everyone THRIVE agenda launched in 2024, World Vision Ghana is targeting 160,000 households, with the aim of doubling incomes for about 400,000 people within three years through enhanced capabilities, market access and financial inclusion.
Jun 11, 2026
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), have convened the Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa, Accra.
The consultation brings together policymakers, researchers, development partners, private-sector actors, civil society, farmer organisations and regional institutions to advance the integration of neglected and underutilised crop species into Africa’s food systems.
These crops, increasingly referred to as opportunity crops, include millets, sorghum landraces, fonio, bambara groundnut, indigenous vegetables and other traditional crops that are deeply rooted in African food cultures but remain under-researched, under-invested and insufficiently represented in formal food, seed, research and market systems.
The conference comes at a critical moment for Africa’s agrifood systems. The continent continues to face interlinked challenges, including hunger, malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss, rapid urbanisation and growing dependence on imported foods.
According to the conference concept note, roughly one in five people in Africa faced hunger in 2024, while more than one billion people on the continent could not afford a healthy diet. At the same time, Africa’s rich plant genetic diversity, which underpins food security, nutrition, livelihoods and cultural heritage, is under increasing threat.
Opportunity crops offer practical pathways for addressing these challenges. Many are nutrient-dense, locally adapted, resilient to climate shocks, suitable for smallholder systems and capable of contributing to diversified diets, local economies and climate-resilient agriculture.
However, their potential has been constrained by limited research investment, weak seed systems, fragmented value chains, low consumer awareness, inadequate market development and insufficient policy support.
Speaking ahead of the consultation, both organizing agencies underscored that opportunity crops should be repositioned as strategic assets for Africa’s food systems transformation, given their contribution to biodiversity, nutrition, resilience and cultural identity.
The consultation will also contribute to continental policy momentum following the Kampala Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Declaration, which calls on African Union Member States to increase the production and consumption of nutritious traditional and indigenous crops through appropriate policy, regulatory and financing mechanisms.
Over the three days, participants will review national and regional experiences with opportunity crops, discuss policy and institutional frameworks, examine approaches to conservation and sustainable use, and identify pathways to strengthen production, seed systems, value chains, research, capacity development, awareness-raising and market integration.
The programme will feature technical sessions on overcoming barriers to opportunity crops, strengthening knowledge and capacity, advancing regional action, promoting on-farm diversity and local adaptation, conserving crop genetic resources, improving breeding and pre-breeding systems, developing seed systems, and building the business case for opportunity crops.
The consultation will culminate in working-group discussions to develop an action-oriented regional roadmap to integrate opportunity crops into Africa’s agrifood systems.
The consultation will include contributions from regional and continental institutions, including the African Union Commission, AUDA-NEPAD, CORAF, ASARECA, CCARDECA, CGIAR, centres, Crop Trust, universities, farmer organisations, private sector actors, and other partners working to advance agricultural biodiversity and resilient food systems across Africa.
The event is expected to foster a shared understanding of the opportunities, gaps and priorities for mainstreaming opportunity crops in Africa, while strengthening partnerships among governments, research institutions, farmers, private-sector actors and civil society.
A key outcome will be a regional roadmap and collaborative action plan to guide future investments, policy reforms and coordinated implementation.
The consultation will be held in a hybrid format with interpretation in English and French, enabling wider participation across Africa and beyond.
