Author: Sefakor
Residents in the Agortime-Ziope District and parts of the Adaklu District are facing an impending water crisis as the Tordze River; their primary water source, has been polluted. The incident occurred after a truck carrying agrochemicals spilled its cargo into the river following a fatal accident on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. The Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) has issued a public statement urging residents to avoid using the Tordze River for drinking, fishing, irrigation, or washing until safety assessments assess the level of contamination. Testing is required to determine whether the water is safe for human activities, according to a…
Ghana will need billions of dollars to treat, reclaim and restore vast degraded lands and water bodies caused by activities of illegal miners over the years. Professor Nana Browne Klutse, the Acting Chief Executive Officer, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), described the situation as an emergency and appealed to development partners to support the country. Speaking to the media, she gave a hint that a world bank funded project had helped reclaim some lands, but it was at a pilot stage and the EPA would need funding to upscale. “We have been approached by companies to help the country reclaim and…
Thousands of cocoa farmers in the Twifo Atti-Morkwa district are up against losing their livelihoods due to a private investor who acquired 50,000 acres of their farmland for a different purpose. Known as Arukah Global Ltd, the local company has reportedly planned to replace cocoa farming with rubber plantations on 1,446.18 hectares of the land acquired. The farmers, particularly those in Agyempoma, Opong Valley, Akaase, and Nkubem, fear losing their main source of income, which could lead to severe economic hardship. The local chief, Nana Kwame Adunya III, has appealed to the government and COCOBOD for urgent assistance to save…
The government of Ghana has announced its ambitious plan to capitalise on the growing global chocolate market, estimated at £130.72 billion annually, with projections to rise to £172 billion by 2030. The Mahama-led government as part of its reset agenda aims to create job opportunities and boost economic growth with strategic investments in the cocoa industry. The announcement came on the back of just-ended 2025 National Chocolate Day. According to the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry Madam Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, the strategies include the promotion entrepreneurship and value addition in cocoa production to enhance competitive edge, establishing of cocoa colleges…
The Fisheries Commission, in a groundbreaking initiative, has joined forces with the Greater Kumasi Fish Farmers Cooperative Union (GKFFCU) to establish a market space at the Kumasi Racecourse. This move aims to level the playing field for fish farmers by ensuring they receive fair prices for their fish farm produce. Director of the Ashanti Regional Fisheries Commission, Gideon Boakye expressed concern over the challenges fish farmers face, such as low and unfair prices, which hinder their profitability and discourage investment in aquaculture. “Fish farming is inherently rewarding, yet fish market traders often purchase from farmers at rock-bottom prices,” he notes,…
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku has convened a meeting with various Regional Ministers to discuss the government’s agricultural strategies. During the meeting, Hon. Opoku emphasized the government’s recent initiatives to strengthen the agricultural sector. Key areas of focus included improvements to irrigation systems, the promotion of crop diversification, and support for smallholder farmers. The Regional Ministers agreed on the significance of these initiatives, noting their alignment with regional development priorities. While acknowledging the challenges facing the agricultural sector such as pests and diseases, climate variability, and insufficient storage facilities participants stressed the urgency of addressing these…
The World Food Programme – Ghana, with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has launched a new project aimed at boosting the food security, nutrition, and livelihoods of the Ghanaian people. The project, which aligns with the Government of Ghana’s vision for digital transformation and economic resilience seeks to empower 15,500 young Ghanaians, with a deliberate focus on women and persons with disabilities, by enhancing their access to digital technology and smart farming solutions. Speaking during the launch of the event at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra on Monday, 17 February 2025, under theme “Youth Economic Empowerment…
The Ministry for Food and Agriculture has announced a major agricultural initiative aimed at transforming the sector through large-scale irrigation projects. The initiative aims to develop 10,000 hectares of irrigated farmland within 12 months. Ghana’s irrigation coverage stands at just 1.6%, far below the West African average of 13.9%. This urgent intervention will allow farmers to produce throughout the year, supporting industries with a steady supply of raw materials. Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku, speaking at the launch of the programme dubbed “Irrigation for Wealth Creation”, programme highlighted the government’s commitment to agriculture as the backbone of economic…
Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that the government has announced an increase in cocoa prices to 70% of the world market price for farmers. COCOBOD, in a post on social media, stated that such reports are entirely false. The regulatory body has urged stakeholders and the public to disregard the misinformation and rely only on official communication channels for accurate updates on cocoa pricing. The social media flyer suggests that the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, had declared that cocoa farmers would be paid 70% of the world market price, but this…
The founder of EHB Eco-Mushroom Farming, Priscilla Eyram Morny, has encouraged farmers to venture into mushroom farming, as it presents some financial breakthroughs and sustainable income for the youth. According to her, about 72 tonnes of mushrooms are needed annually in the country for consumption, due to its health-conscious meals, where people are using it to replace other proteins. Speaking to The Ghanaian Farmer’s Enyonam Manye, Eyram shockingly revealed that Ghana imports canned mushrooms from different parts of the world to meet its increasing demand. “Ghana needs about six tonnes of mushrooms every month to meet consumer demands. We are…