Author: Sefakor

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has entered into a partnership with the African Agribusiness Consortium (AAC), a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies, to establish a 750-acre commercial vegetable production hub aimed at increasing domestic vegetable production, creating jobs and strengthening Ghana’s food security. The initiative was announced by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, during a ceremony to welcome 118 Ghanaian graduates of the People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), whose postgraduate education was sponsored by the Jospong Group through AAC. The Minister described the graduates’ return as a significant boost to Ghana’s…

The CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr. Randy Abbey has said that the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill 2026 marks a structural shift aimed at securing the long-term viability of Ghana’s cocoa economy. Parliament passed the Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, on Thursday, July 30. The passage allows for major reforms in Ghana’s cocoa sector, including a guarantee that cocoa farmers will receive not less than 70 per cent of the Free on Board (FOB) export price by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). Presenting the objectives of the Bill on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, July 30, Deputy Finance…

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a grant of $18.8 million to the Government of Ghana for the implementation of the Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chains (REWARD) Project. The project aims to boost domestic rice production, strengthen food security, and create jobs across the agricultural value chain. It will support efforts to increase rice productivity, improve market systems, and reduce Ghana’s dependence on rice imports, while enhancing the competitiveness of locally produced rice. Agriculture remains central to Ghana’s economy, supporting livelihoods and contributing significantly to food security. However, domestic rice production has…

Ghana’s cashew sector is facing renewed concerns over price instability, weak local processing and the continued export of raw nuts, following a sharp decline in farm-gate prices in 2025. Although Ghana produces hundreds of thousands of tonnes of cashew nuts annually, the country continues to capture only a small share of the value generated from the crop, as more than 94 percent of locally produced raw cashew nuts are exported or traded without being processed domestically. A new independent study on Ghana’s cashew industry has revealed that the country processed only about 15,000 metric tonnes of raw cashew nuts in…

Civil Society Activist, Dr Steve Manteaw has said that proper land use plans in Ghana will go a long way to resolve the issue of mining activities taking over farmlands. He makes the point that currently, Ghana lacks proper land use plans; therefore, anywhere minerals are discovered, they are immediately given out for mining. This has resulted in the destruction of farmlands, he said. Speaking during the launch of the 2023 Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GHEITI) report in Accra, Dr Manteaw stated that mining and agriculture can coexist in such a way that farmlands will not be destroyed. “I…

Ghana grows food in abundance, but the absence of good transportation systems leaves both producers and consumers paying higher prices. Across yam-growing areas in the northern sector, the Bono and Ahafo areas and the Oti Region, farmers are recording bumper harvests, but prices remain relatively high, especially in urban areas. The situation is largely blamed on poor transportation networks from the farm gates. In the Oti Region, the harvests exceed demand in the local communities and are desperately itching for other market outlets. In a post made by the national broadcaster, Ghana Television, citizens have once again started raising concerns…

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has said that globally, about one billion people work in the agricultural sector. This constitutes approximately 28 per cent of the employed population. The ILO said that about 450 million are waged workers, many of whom depend on incomes from jobs in the plantation sector. While the share of employment in agriculture has declined in many countries due to technological advancements and economic shifts, it said, agriculture remains a critical sector for livelihoods, food security, and rural development. However, the ILO said in a report that agriculture workers regularly face high levels of working poverty,…

Despite the general applause that came with a new cocoa bill that promises not less than 70% return for cocoa farmers, the Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, is sounding an alarm over a provision in the bill. While criticising provisions in the newly passed Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) bill, he said they unfairly strip cocoa farmers of the right to determine how their land is used. While making a post on his official Facebook page on August 2, Mr. Nyarko said the bill forbids cocoa farmers from converting their farmlands to other uses than…

Unless urgent action is taken, global demand for shea products could outstrip supply within the next two decades, the Global Shea Alliance (GSA) has warned. The Alliance noted that West Africa is losing an estimated eight million shea trees every year, raising concerns that the continued degradation of shea parklands could threaten the future of the industry and the livelihoods of millions of people across the region. The warning was echoed by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, and other stakeholders during the 2026 Shea Day celebrations held in Buipe in the Savannah Region. Managing…

Ghana’s rising food import bill continues to expose a long-standing disconnect between the country’s agricultural opportunities and its actual output, as new data reveals that more than GH¢36 billion was spent importing key food items in 2025. According to the latest Annual International Merchandise Trade Statistics Report by the Ghana Statistical Service, food imports reached GH¢36.46 billion, with cereal grains, frozen chicken, rice and animal products accounting for a significant share. Processed cereal grains topped the list at GH¢2.94 billion, representing 8.1 percent of total imports, followed closely by frozen chicken at GH¢2.84 billion and animal products such as…