In his 2025 State of the Nation Address, Ghana’s President, H.E John Dramani Mahama highlighted critical challenges and transformative plans for the agricultural sector, with a focus on revitalising cocoa production, reducing food imports, and tackling unemployment. Through these interventions, the government aims to transform agriculture into a driver of prosperity, self-sufficiency, and youth opportunity.

1. The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), a cornerstone for cocoa farmers, faces severe financial strain with a total debt of GHS 32.5 billion, including GHS 9.7 billion due by September 2025. A significant revenue loss stems from the 2023/2024 season, where COCOBOD failed to supply 333,767 tonnes of cocoa sold at $2,600 per tonne. These contracts were rolled over into 2024/2025, forcing COCOBOD and farmers to forfeit $4,000 per tonne—a loss of $840 million already incurred from 210,000 tonnes delivered, with an additional $495 million pending. Compounding this, cocoa road projects have accumulated GHS 21.7 billion in debt, largely due to pre-election contract awards in 2019–2020.

2. To counter soaring food imports (over $2 billion annually) and rising inflation, the government unveiled the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA). This initiative aims to modernise farming, boost agribusiness, ensure food security, and create jobs. Key programmes include:

a) Feed Ghana programme: Scaling up production of staples like rice, maize, soyabeans, tomatoes, onions, and peppers to lower prices.

b) Poultry sector revamp: Eliminating $300 million in annual poultry imports by investing in hatcheries, feed mills, and processing.

c) The Nkoko nkitinkiti project will engage 55,000 households in poultry and egg production.

d) AgriNext programme: Connecting 30,000 youth to land banks, greenhouse farming, and agri-value chains to attract young talents.

e) Livestock development: Reducing meat imports by expanding local breeder farms and production.

3. To address chronic gaps in mechanisation, seeds, and extension services, Farmer Service Centres will be established in every agricultural district. In fisheries, measures against illegal fishing are being intensified, alongside expanded premix fuel subsidies, modern landing sites, and cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.

4. Aquaculture will receive technical and financial support to cut fish imports, while women in fisheries will gain access to resources and training.

5. The President emphasised agriculture’s role in job creation, linking value addition, processing, and distribution to economic growth. However, balancing debt resolution in sectors like cocoa with ambitious agricultural reforms will be critical to strengthening Ghana’s economy and food sovereignty.

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