At 24, Gifty Yeboah Quaye runs a mixed livestock agribusiness in Ghana’s Central and Eastern Regions.
Unlike many traditional farmers, she treats agriculture like a corporate entity with documentation and certification for Giftfest Livestock Farms. She started this journey at 19, raising poultry, cattle, goats, pigs, and fish in Effiduase, Koforidua, and Winneba.
Describing herself as the youngest female livestock farmer in Ghana, Gifty expressed worry about the lack of proper distribution channels for farm produce, leaving farmers at the mercy of middlemen.
While appealing to the government in a video posted on social media, she called for the provision of dedicated spaces for farmers in the country’s markets, including those being developed under the 24-hour market initiative.
According to her, creating organised farmers’ markets across all 16 regions would support producers to sell directly to consumers, reduce the influence of multiple intermediaries and improve farmers’ earnings.
“As a farmer, whenever I travel to other countries, I notice how accessible farmers’ markets are, where farmers get to sell their products directly to their consumers,” she said.
Gifty argued that farmers often sell their produce at relatively low prices, while consumers pay significantly higher prices at retail markets because of the involvement of multiple intermediaries.
A well-organised farmers’ market system, she says, can bridge this gap by providing a platform for direct transactions between producers and consumers.
The young farmer’s call comes as the government pursues its 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, which includes plans to develop markets that operate around the clock.
Speaking at an orientation session for Regional Ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Accra on November 4, 2025, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, described the initiative as a transformative step towards re-engineering Ghana’s market infrastructure and improving livelihoods.
The markets would serve not only as trading spaces but also as economic hubs operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing traders to expand their operations, reach new customer segments and improve their incomes.
The proposed facilities are expected to include cold storage units, sanitation systems, digital payment infrastructure, childcare centres, police and fire posts, as well as adequate lighting to improve safety and convenience for traders and customers.
While the initiative seeks to expand trading opportunities and modernise market infrastructure, Gifty Yeboah Quaye’s appeal highlights the importance of prioritising farmers who can benefit from such investments by selling their produce directly to consumers.
She said her request was not solely for her benefit but reflected the concerns of farmers across the country who need better platforms to reach consumers.
“This is not just a request for myself, but an appeal on behalf of farmers across the country. We want to produce. We want to grow. And we also need a better place and a platform to reach our consumers,” she stated.
She hopes that her appeal will reach the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and other relevant government agencies for consideration.
