Author: Sefakor
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), has officially commenced a survey to evaluate Phase 2 of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative. The Ghana Core Agriculture and Production Methods and Environment (CorePME) survey, which forms part of the wider Ghana Core Agriculture Surveys (GCAS++), aims to collect vital data that will facilitate informed decision-making within the agricultural sector, ensuring sustainable growth and development. Fieldwork for the survey is set to start from 3rd February to 20th March 2025, employing Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews (CAPI) to enhance the efficiency and accuracy…
Gifty Hodey-Manye, a renowned Ghanaian Agricultural journalist and influencer has been selected to participate in the prestigious “Agricultural Influencers Sponsorship Program 2025” in Morocco under the theme “Crop Quality”. The program, scheduled to take place from February 10 to 14, 2025, at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, aims to empower future agricultural leaders and influencers in Africa. As one of the selected influencers from Africa, Gifty Hodey-Manye, popularly known as Enyonam Manye, will join a cohort of agricultural influencers and leaders from across the continent for the five-day interactive training program. The sessions, led by experts, will focus on sustainable practices…
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has officially signed a Declaration of Intent to Cooperate with ApexBrasil and the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, with the objective of enhancing bilateral collaboration within the cocoa sector and utilising cutting-edge technology to increase cocoa production in Ghana. This pivotal agreement was formalised during a high-level meeting at Cocoa House in Accra, coinciding with a Brazilian Presidential Mission to Africa. The Brazilian delegation, led by Her Excellency Mariana Madeira, the Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana, along with representatives from ApexBrasil and the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, engaged in productive discussions with COCOBOD’s Acting Chief…
A catastrophic bushfire has destroyed a yam barn in Tapon-Akura, located in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region, resulting in a staggering loss of 1,000 tubers of yams for the farmer. Mr. Tapon Nchaame, the affected farmer, reported that the fire was intentionally set, despite his diligent efforts to establish fire belts around his farm. He lamented that this incident is part of a troubling trend, as bushfires have become a recurrent problem during the harmattan season in both his community and the wider municipality. In light of this devastating event, Mr. Nchaame is urgently appealing to the…
The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) convened a high-level meeting with key stakeholders from the health, agriculture, and financial sectors to engage in the Food System Transformation and Nutrition Security (FSTNS) Cross-Sectoral Planning Group (CSPG) conference in Accra. The FSTNS-CSPG is crucial for coordinating Ghana’s strategies to combat food system and nutrition security issues. This meeting served as a platform to review progress made thus far and to outline plans for significant forthcoming events, including the integration of FSTNS into planning processes, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Joint Annual Assessment, and the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit. During the…
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced the government’s grand plan to terminate the contract awarded for the construction of the Pwalugu Dam. This revelation came during an interview with journalists after a rather enlightening three-day tour of various departments and agencies under the ministry. Back in 2019, the government started a $993 million contract to build the Pwalugu multipurpose dam in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region. The project was anticipated to showcase a hydro-solar hybrid system boasting 60 MW of hydropower and 50 MW of solar power. Most crucially, it was meant to…
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is at risk of losing substantial portions of its land, currently occupied by various directorates, due to encroachment. During an ongoing tour, Minister Eric Opoku has uncovered a concerning situation where MOFA staff are being forcibly removed from their offices to accommodate private developers. Allegations suggest that some of these developers have acquired the land through illegal means. For instance, the offices of the Women in Agricultural Development and Livestock Breeding Directorate at Borteyman, also known as Nungua Farms, are being encroached with buildings allegedly erected by influential figures from both past and present…
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently decided to remove coconuts from the list of U.S. food allergens, a move poised to significantly impact the coconut industry and major fruit producers like Indonesia and the Philippines. This decision is expected to drive up demand for coconut-based products, benefiting various sectors within the industry. As a result of this change, packaged food and supplements containing coconuts are no longer required to carry mandatory allergen labeling under the U.S. Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA). This shift follows the efforts of trade groups, including the…
The General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) is calling for the establishment of a Ghana Agriculture Service to spearhead reforms and oversee the implementation of national policies designed to transform the agricultural sector. According to the Union, this initiative will significantly enhance agricultural production and improve food security across the nation. During a recent media interaction, Dr. Pascal Kaba, Deputy General Secretary of GAWU, stated, “The time for the Ghana Agriculture Service is now, as it will empower decision-making and facilitate monitoring at local levels.” Dr. Kaba highlighted that the absence of such a service has impeded the efficient delivery of…
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has begun an inspection of various projects, touring various agencies and departments under his ministry. The Minister, in the company of the Chief Director of the ministry and other deputy directors, as part of his tour on January 27, 2025, is expected to visit Pokuase and other areas in the region for a briefing on the status of various government projects. Addressing the media during his tour, the minister underscored the importance of the agencies and its staff, whilst acknowledging their commitment towards achieving the objectives of the ministry. “ We as…