Is President John Dramani Mahama Paying Lip Service to Boosting Ghana’s Agricultural Sector?

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama

As Ghana’s agricultural sector grapples with challenges ranging from climate change to inadequate infrastructure, questions arise regarding President John Dramani Mahama's commitment to revitalizing this crucial industry. With over 60% of Ghanaians engaged in the agricultural value chain, the implications of agricultural policy extend far beyond mere economic statistics; they impact livelihoods, food security, and the nation’s overarching stability.

In the recent past, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government introduced a program called "Planting for Food and Jobs Phase 2," a novel initiative aimed at providing financial support to farmers. This program proposed a credit system where farmers would receive essential farm inputs and tractor services, paying back with their harvests. However, the rollout faced significant hurdles. Many private aggregators contracted to supply the necessary resources failed to deliver, primarily due to the government’s inability to fulfill its financial obligations. These challenges have raised doubts among stakeholders about the effectiveness of top-down approaches in addressing the complexities within Ghana's agricultural landscape.

The situation reveals a critical reliance on government support, yet an inability of past administrations, including the NPP, to effectively implement policies that resonate with the ground realities faced by farmers. As the nation turns its gaze toward the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its new agenda, the potential for transformative change remains to be seen.

The NDC’s Promise for Agricultural Revitalization

During the 2024 campaign, the NDC laid out an ambitious roadmap to uplift the agricultural sector. Among their proposals were the implementation of several key initiatives aimed at ensuring food security and promoting sustainable practices:

1. Feed Ghana Programme: This initiative seeks to promote ‘SMART’ agriculture by establishing farmer service centers across districts. By providing access to modern agricultural equipment, technologies, and inputs, the initiative aims to ease the barriers that restrict farmers from optimizing their productivity.

2. Vegetable Development Project (‘YƐREDUA’): Designed to boost local vegetable production, specifically tomatoes, onions, and peppers, this project highlights the importance of modern agricultural infrastructure through greenhouses and designated ready-to-farm spaces under irrigation.

3. Revamping the Poultry Industry: Amidst declining local poultry production, the government plans to incentivize farmers and promote domestic consumption under a “Made-in-Ghana” agenda, addressing the issues that led the poultry sector to near collapse.

4. Livestock Development and Feed Industry Programmes: Both programs focus on increasing local meat and dairy production, attracting investment into the production of local raw materials, thereby addressing supply inconsistencies faced by processing industries.

5. Cocoa Farmer Welfare Enhancement: To reinstate lost confidence among cocoa farmers, the NDC has promised to reintroduce cocoa price stabilization funds and bonuses, along with commitments to healthcare and pension schemes for farmers.

Despite these prefaced plans, there remains tangible skepticism over their implementation, particularly in light of unpredictable weather patterns that have led to critical food shortages across various regions of Ghana in 2024.

Critical Concerns on Budget Allocation

The 2025 national budget allocated a mere GH¢1.5 billion (approximately 0.54% of the total GH¢279 billion budget) to agriculture – a clear decline from the 2.2% allocated by the preceding NPP administration. Concerns over this allocation were notably raised by Mr. Daniel Fahene Acquaye, CEO of Agri-Impact Limited. During a recent budget digest in Accra, he articulated that the allocation was insufficient to foster economic transformation within the agricultural sector.

As Ghana faces compounding crises, including rising inflation and mounting food insecurity, the need for substantial investment in agriculture becomes increasingly apparent. Many farmers, particularly in regions such as the Upper West, are still left high and dry, waiting for the new government to announce concrete agricultural programs that can stave off impending crises.

The Potential of Ghana’s Agricultural Sector

According to experts , Ghana's agricultural sector harbors immense potential, driven by its rich soils, favorable climate, and a predominantly young population willing to engage in farming. The opportunity to harness this potential lies in a multi-faceted approach involving both government initiatives and private sector investments in the following areas:

• Technological Integration: Adopting innovations in agricultural technology can significantly enhance productivity. Implementing precision farming techniques and developing smart agriculture tools can efficiently allocate resources while minimizing wastage.

• Infrastructure Development: Investing in essential infrastructure such as roads, storage facilities, and irrigation systems can facilitate better market access and reduce post-harvest losses, which are crippling for many farmers.

• Cooperative Models: Promoting cooperative farming models can empower farmers, enhance bargaining power, and streamline access to inputs and markets. Such models can also foster collaboration among farmers, enabling collective action in addressing challenges.

• Market Access and Value Addition: Strengthening value chains through market integration can improve profitability for farmers. Encouragement of agro-processing can add value to raw agricultural products, thus providing a wider market reach and better pricing for farmers.

• Financial Support Systems: Establishing microfinance initiatives targeted specifically at farmers can enhance their access to capital and reduce dependency on ambiguous government credit lines.

The future of Ghana’s agricultural sector is more crucial now than ever, as it is intricately linked to the nation’s socio-economic stability. While President Mahama’s administration has presented an attractive vision in its manifesto, the insufficiency of the current budgetary allocation raises questions about the seriousness of its commitment to actualizing these promises.

As farmers await concrete strategies that address their immediate needs, government officials, stakeholders, and private sector participants must unite to enhance agricultural productivity through a robust and actionable framework. Failure to do so risks perpetuating a cycle of dependency and stagnation within the sector, jeopardizing not only food security but also the livelihoods of millions of Ghanaians who depend on agriculture as their primary source of income.

The time for decisive action is now—Ghana's agricultural future and the well-being of its people depend on it