Author: Sefakor

Residents of Yaara, a farming community in the Kintampo North Municipality of the Bono East Region understand the value of climate protection and refused to lift a longstanding ban on charcoal production despite pressure from surrounding communities, where charcoal burning remains a major source of income. Across Ghana, charcoal production is one of the leading causes of deforestation and across sub-Saharan Africa. Even though it is a source of income for many rural households, environmental experts warn that unsustainable tree felling results in forest degradation, reduced rainfall, soil erosion and exposure to climate vulnerability. Yaara’s firm stance portrays a rare…

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has stirred conversations online after saying a Dr Bawumia-led administration will prioritize the protection of cocoa farmers for better growth. According to him, the flagbearer of the party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has already begun with measures that will resolve the crisis cocoa farmers are going through. “Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has started the process of preparing solutions to the cocoa crisis,” part of a post he made on Facebook read. Mr. Oppong Nkrumah’s comments came following the Minority Caucus Select Committee’s tour of cocoa-growing areas and engaged…

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has disputed claims by the Ministry of Finance that it has released GH¢1.6 billion, representing 85 percent of MoFA’s 2026 budget allocation. According to MoFA, the figures cited by the Finance Ministry do not correspond with official budget execution documents issued by the same ministry. The Ministry of Finance had earlier announced that it released GH¢1.677 billion to MoFA in 2026, describing the amount as 85 percent of the ministry’s approved budget for Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX). This disclosure was made by the Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem,…

The push for Ghana to become self-sufficient in rice production has gained fresh momentum this week after the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra from June 2–3. During the event, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku was applauded for announcing the government’s policy to tie rice import permits to local investment to help boost local rice consumption. But the Executive Director of Ghana Rice Federation, Kofi Akuamoah Boateng Baidoo observes that the agenda is beyond sloganeering and can only end importation of the staple with high quality harvests that meet consumer taste. He said even though increasing…

For a long time, agriculture has been limited to farming and it has been the reason unemployment has become an albatross, says the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku. It is against this background that the government in collaboration with the World Bank Group and other development partners launched a project to transform agriculture into agribusiness and create employment opportunities for the youth. “We have the enormous potential to develop the entire chain to generate jobs for the youth, Mr. Opoku told the press during the launch of the AgriConnect Compact in Accra. Designed to strengthen food security ,…

Ghana’s cocoa sector is intensifying collaboration efforts ahead of the 26th December, 2026 rollout of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), a major policy expected to reshape global commodity trade and sustainability standards. At a one-day stakeholder engagement held in Accra, participants drawn from government institutions, the private sector, civil society organisations, development partners and cocoa farmers assessed progress made and outlined strategies to ensure a smooth implementation of the new regulation. Discussions at the meeting highlighted the traceability systems being established across the cocoa value chain to meet EUDR requirements. Stakeholders emphasised the shared responsibility of all actors in…

Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has disclosed that the government has released 85 percent of the approved 2026 budget for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture Ghana, in a major push to boost food production and strengthen the country’s agricultural sector. Speaking at the launch of the Ghana National Pact for Agriculture and Economic Transformation Food Security and Employment (AGRICONNECT) Compact in Accra, Mr. Nyarko Ampem stated, “I am pleased to confirm that we have released GH¢1.677 billion, representing 85 percent of the approved 2026 Budget for Goods and Services and CAPEX for the Ministry of Food and…

For months, rice farmers across the country have struggled with huge unsold stocks worth billions of cedis, prompting calls for a temporary ban on imported rice. In what promises to be a relief in the coming years, the government is preparing to introduce a new policy that will link rice import permits directly to investment in the country’s domestic rice sector, in what officials describe as a major step toward achieving self-sufficiency and reducing the nation’s growing import bill. The policy was announced by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, during the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable held…

A high-level gathering of policymakers, development partners, and private sector leaders has opened in Accra with a renewed push to transform West Africa’s rice sector and reduce the region’s heavy dependence on imports. The two-day West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable, running from June 2 to 3, is being held under the theme “Mobilizing Transformational Capital to Support West Africa’s Rice Agenda.” The forum is focused on unlocking critical financing and accelerating the implementation of national and regional rice investment plans. Participants are engaging in strategic discussions on how to mobilize public, private, and blended finance to drive large-scale investments across…

Twenty young farmers are expected to receive sponsorship from Deputy Agriculture Minister, John Dumelo for the production of high quality tomatoes during the dry season. Slated to kick off in September, Mr. Dumelo who’s sponsoring the farmers with his personal finances, said the selection will be based on land availability and already cleared. In a post sighted by the Ghanaian Farmer on X and Facebook on May 29, the minister and Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon revealed that interested applicants must have a minimum land size of 2 acres and a maximum of 20 acres. He explained that…