Jun 17, 2025
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has officially sworn in the newly appointed 9-member board of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO). The ceremony marked a significant milestone in the company’s efforts to enhance food security and stabilize food prices in Ghana.
The board, chaired by Hon. Eric Osei Owusu (PhD), former Member of Parliament for Afram Plains South constituency, comprises distinguished individuals with diverse expertise. The members include Eng. Sir Joseph Osei, Janet Adama, Collins Mahama, Stephen Baffoe, Daniel Atta Kusi, George Otoo, Michael Ologo, and Hajia Fati Benedicta.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Minister Opoku charged the board members to work diligently towards achieving the company’s objectives. He emphasized the importance of their role in ensuring food security and stabilizing food prices, particularly in times of scarcity. The minister urged the board to be proactive in identifying challenges and developing effective strategies to address them.
In his response, Dr. Eric Osei Owusu, the chairman, expressed gratitude to the President and Minister Opoku for entrusting the board with this critical responsibility. On behalf of his colleagues, he pledged to work tirelessly to meet the expectations of Ghanaians. The chairman assured the minister that the board would prioritize transparency, accountability, and efficiency in managing the company’s resources.
With their diverse backgrounds and expertise, the board members are well-equipped to drive NAFCO’s mission forward. Their appointment is expected to bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the company’s operations, ultimately benefiting the Ghanaian people.
As the board embarks on its new mandate, it is poised to make a significant impact on Ghana’s food security landscape. By working collaboratively with stakeholders, the board aims to develop and implement effective strategies that will enhance food availability, accessibility, and affordability for all Ghanaians.
Jun 17, 2025
Food and Agriculture Minister, Eric Opoku, has sworn into office a new governing board for the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) in Accra.
The 9-member board is chaired by a former Chief Executive of the company, Dr. Eric Osei-Owusu and is expected to oversee the activities of the company.
The board has Ingr. Sir Joseph Charles Osei, Madam Janet Chigabatia-Adama, Mr. Collins Mahama and Mr. Stephen Baffoe as members.
Other members of the board are the company’s Chief Executive Officer, George Abradu-Otoo; Daniel Atta-Kusi; Michael Ologo and Hajia Benedicta Fati Skido-Achulo.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister announced government has for the first time made a budgetary allocation to stock the national food reserve held by the National Food Buffer Stock Company. He said the maintenance of strategic stock by NAFCO is critical in mitigating the impact of disasters and emergencies.
“We need Buffer Stock in operation to step out to buy and to store in order not to discourage farmers and consumers, and President Mahama is committed to this”.
Board Chairman, Dr. Eric Osei-Owusu pledged the commitment of the Board to ensure the company works in alignment with government’s programmes and policies within the food security frame.
“It is obvious that Buffer Stock has a crucial role to play in achieving the beautiful targets set in the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), which focuses on modernising agriculture and promoting agri-business to reduce food inflation, ensure food security, boost exports and create sustainable jobs”.
He said the company is poised to assert its role as the state food security reserve and national aggregator to effectively deal with post-harvest losses, reduction in food inflation and employment creation for our teaming youth.
“This is how we intend to contribute towards the Re-Set Agenda”.
Source:- JoyOnline
Jun 17, 2025
The National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) is seeking an intervention by the United Nations food agency, the World Food Programme (WFP), to enhance food systems.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Osmond Amuah, believes that infrastructural overhaul, the infusion of innovation, technology and best practices will contribute towards resilient systems to advance food security in Ghana.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimates that some two million people are the risk of facing food insecurity.
Interacting with a visiting WFP technical team in Accra, Mr Osmond hinted at a move by government to beef up the national food stock by making available some GH¢100 million for grain purchases as it takes steps to avert the recurrence of the drought that hit part of northern Ghana last year.
“That drought was catastrophic…it worsened the level of poverty. We are doing everything possible to ensure the level of impact is minimised should it even occur again”, he said.
The four-member team from the WFP Regional Office in Dakar, Senegal, was led by Dr. Ones Karuho, Head of Resilience and Food Systems and included Programme Policy Officer, Albert Akafari; Agribusiness Consultant, Foster Gomashie; and Diarde Ba, Food Systems Officer.
The team was in Ghana to hold in-country consultations with stakeholders on the Country Strategic Plan and WFP Food Security Strategy currently being developed.
NAFCO and WFP have been working together under the South-South Cooperation Triangle as well as the Rice Fortification initiative under the Rockefeller Project.
Chief Executive Officer of NAFCO, George Abradu-Otoo, said a major focus of the company’s operation has been to work in alignment with the government’s Feed Ghana programme to address food inflation issues and improve the lives of the vulnerable.
He called for stronger ties among partners towards the attainment of SDG goals relating to food security and health.
The WFP Regional Head of Resilience and Food Systems, Dr. Ones Karuho, pledged WFP’s readiness to partner with NAFCO to strengthen key areas such as Warehouse Management, food safety and procurement processes.
“We are desirous of working with NAFCO on many important strategic areas, to better the lives of farmers, young people and the vulnerable”.
Source:-Joy Online
Jun 13, 2025
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has assured Ghanaians that there will be no food shortages in the coming months. Speaking at the launch of the government’s $200 million Tree Crop Diversification Project in Accra, he expressed confidence that food prices would remain stable, particularly ahead of the festive season.
This assurance comes as the cost of food in Ghana rose by 22.8% in October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to the Ghana Statistical Service. Food inflation in Ghana has averaged 14.99% since 2013, with a peak of 61.0% in January 2023 and a record low of 5.0% in July 2014.
The Ghana Tree Crop Diversification Project, launched in partnership with the World Bank, aims to address challenges in the country’s food supply system by promoting the production, processing, and trading of six high-value tree crops: cashew, shea, mango, coconut, rubber, and oil palm.
According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the project is expected to directly benefit 52,775 farmers and households, with a focus on cocoa, cashew, coconut, and rubber farmers. Additionally, 185 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in processing these crops will also gain from the initiative.
Dr. Acheampong highlighted the tree crop sector’s critical role in agriculture and the economy, providing income for over 1.6 million farming households. The initiative is projected to create 20,000 jobs, with 60% targeting youth employment.
Under the theme “Sowing the Seeds of the Future: Unlocking Ghana’s Tree Crop Potential for Inclusive and Sustainable Transformation,” the project seeks to address key challenges such as deforestation, climate change, and other environmental threats that jeopardize the country’s agricultural sustainability.
In addition to diversification, the government is focusing on modernizing the cocoa sector. The Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is currently implementing its second Cocoa Sector Development Strategy (CSDS-II), spanning 2017 to 2027.
“This strategy addresses past shortcomings, including ineffective management of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) and the lack of robust information systems,” Dr. Acheampong noted.
Key interventions under CSDS-II include: enhancing productivity and efficiency, driving innovation and quality management, improving traceability and certification and economic benefits.
Dr. Acheampong emphasized the significant opportunities offered by the tree crop sector for economic diversification, job creation, poverty reduction, foreign exchange earnings, and gross domestic product (GDP) contribution.
Despite Ghana’s ample arable land for cocoa production, the minister acknowledged the growing threats posed by deforestation and climate change. He warned that if these trends persist, many cocoa-farming households could face economic hardships, and the country’s foreign exchange revenues could decline.
The Tree Crop Diversification Project marks a critical step toward ensuring inclusive and sustainable transformation of Ghana’s agricultural landscape while bolstering food security and economic resilience.
Jun 13, 2025
Simon Akibange Aworigo, Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central, has reaffirmed his commitment to driving socio-economic development in the constituency through agriculture, with a special focus on empowering women farmers.
Speaking during a visit by Deputy Minister for Agriculture, John Dumelo, to the Irrigation Company of Upper Region (ICOUR), Aworigo emphasized the importance of supporting the 2,100 women farmers across 43 farming groups within the Tono Irrigation Scheme’s catchment area.
“We will ensure that whatever support women farmers need—aside from equipment—we will provide. If it’s beyond our reach, we’ll seek help from the Ministry,” he stated.
Simon Akibange Aworigo, Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central, has reaffirmed his commitment to driving socio-economic development in the constituency through agriculture, with a special focus on empowering women farmers.
Speaking during a visit by Deputy Minister for Agriculture, John Dumelo, to the Irrigation Company of Upper Region (ICOUR), Aworigo emphasized the importance of supporting the 2,100 women farmers across 43 farming groups within the Tono Irrigation Scheme’s catchment area.
“We will ensure that whatever support women farmers need—aside from equipment—we will provide. If it’s beyond our reach, we’ll seek help from the Ministry,” he stated.
Aworigo highlighted plans to support women in acquiring farmland and accessing financial assistance to enhance productivity. He also expressed intentions to collaborate with agriculture-focused NGOs to provide both financial and technical support.
“The small issues like access to land and other essentials will be addressed to ensure the women can increase their output,” he added.
Deputy Minister John Dumelo, on his part, assured the government’s commitment to solving the challenges facing farmers under the irrigation project. These include poor road networks, lack of farming machinery, and limited subsidies on farm inputs.
Dumelo, who was on a familiarization tour, engaged with local farmers and urged them to continue their essential role in feeding the nation.
May 14, 2025
Accra, May 14, 2025 — The Ghanaian government has officially unveiled a strategic initiative aimed at transforming the country’s agricultural landscape through the formation of farmer cooperatives under the flagship Feed Ghana Programme. This move, announced today by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, is expected to empower smallholder farmers, enhance productivity, and accelerate Ghana’s journey towards food self-sufficiency and economic resilience.
In a comprehensive press briefing held at the Ministry’s conference room, Minister Opoku emphasized the critical role that farmer cooperatives will play in achieving the government’s ambitious goals, including the realization of the 24-Hour Economy envisioned by President John Dramani Mahama.
A Strategic Shift Toward Farmer Organization and Empowerment
“Cooperatives are proven instruments of empowerment,” Minister Opoku stated. “They enable farmers, especially smallholders and vulnerable groups, to benefit from scale, collective bargaining, and better access to resources. Forming cooperatives is not just an administrative step; it’s a strategic pathway to transforming our agriculture sector.”
The Minister highlighted that organized groups of farmers will be at the forefront of accessing the full range of support offered through the Feed Ghana Programme, which is designed to stimulate productivity, improve market access, and ensure sustainable development.
Key Support Components of the Feed Ghana Programme
The initiative will facilitate farmers’ access to several critical services, including:
Farmer Service Centres (FSCs): Providing mechanization, input distribution, extension services, and climate-smart technologies, with cooperatives prioritized for access.
Financial Services: Partnering with banks to deliver tailored financial products such as savings, insurance, and mobile money platforms.
Credit and Investment: Enabling registered cooperatives to secure loans, high-yield breeds like Kuroiler chickens, feed subsidies, and training.
Input Subsidies: Offering prioritized access to subsidized seeds, fertilizers, and animal feed.
Training & Capacity Building: Equipping farmers with modern farm management, agribusiness, and digital agriculture skills.
Market Linkages: Supporting cooperatives to negotiate better prices and establish long-term contracts with government agencies, hospitals, export markets, and other institutional buyers.
Policy Inclusion: Giving farmers a voice in national policy discussions at various levels.
Additional Benefits and Call to Action
Beyond immediate support, the formation of cooperatives promises long-term benefits such as knowledge sharing, bulk purchasing, collective marketing, and social safety nets. It also enhances the sector’s appeal to donors and NGOs, fostering further development.
The sector minister urged farmers, particularly women, youth, persons with disabilities, and smallholders, to seize this opportunity. “Our district offices stand ready to assist you in registration, governance training, and linkage to support services. We will also be conducting sensitization campaigns across all regions to ensure widespread awareness and participation,” he assured.
Looking Ahead
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture plans to collaborate closely with traditional authorities, local government bodies, and development partners to facilitate the rapid formation and formalization of farmer cooperatives nationwide. The initiative aims not only to improve food security but also to create jobs, foster rural development, and build a resilient agricultural economy capable of meeting both domestic and export demands.
As Ghana steps into this new era of agricultural transformation, the government’s message is clear: unity, organization, and collective effort are key to feeding the nation and ensuring prosperity for all.
For more information or to participate, farmers are encouraged to contact their local agricultural offices.
Source:- Mofa
