News Guide Africa

Tag: Feed Ghana Initiative

  • Gov’t rejects low spending claims, unveils billions allocated to key sectors

    Gov’t rejects low spending claims, unveils billions allocated to key sectors

    By Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    The Government of Ghana has strongly pushed back against critics claiming a slowdown in public spending, presenting Parliament with an extensive breakdown of billions of cedis deployed across crucial sectors of the economy under the 2026 Budget.

    Addressing Parliament, government representatives insisted that state funds are being deployed responsibly to drive national development while strictly preserving fiscal discipline following recent macroeconomic stabilization efforts.

    Discipline Meets Development

    Addressing lawmakers in Parliament, government officials emphasized that while a narrative of reduced public expenditure has gained traction among political opponents and market commentators, the financial figures demonstrate substantial funding for infrastructure, social protection, education, and health.

    “We are operating on the fundamental principle of spending only what we have while ensuring that every single cedi is deployed prudently,” stated the government update presented to Parliament. “The narrative that public spending has stalled is completely detached from the reality on the ground. We are maintaining fiscal discipline without compromising on critical social investments and development projects.”

     

    Major Allocations Across Essential Sectors

    According to the official fiscal update, compensation for public sector employees accounted for the largest single expenditure at GH¢48.8 billion, which included GH¢4 billion in contributions toward the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and Tier-2 pension schemes.

    Debt servicing commitments were also highlighted, with GH¢21.5 billion paid toward domestic interest obligations, US$700 million spent on servicing Eurobond and foreign debt commitments, and GH¢10 billion disbursed to domestic bondholders to bolster financial sector confidence.

    To support social welfare and sub-national governance, government released GH¢4.4 billion to the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), GH¢4.5 billion to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), and GH¢1.1 billion toward the specialized healthcare initiative, MahamaCares.

    “Our commitment to social safety nets remains unwavering,” the statement noted. “From health coverage through the NHIS to specialized care under MahamaCares and local development via the District Assemblies Common Fund, resources are actively flowing to improve the everyday lives of Ghanaians.”

     

    Investments in Education, Agriculture, and Infrastructure

    The breakdown highlighted extensive support for education, including GH¢4.2 billion transferred to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), GH¢1.8 billion for the Free SHS Programme, GH¢537 million under the No Fees Stress Policy for tertiary students, and GH¢915 million for educational goods and services.

    In infrastructure and agriculture, government committed GH¢11.5 billion to total capital expenditure, which encompasses GH¢6.5 billion dedicated to the Big Push Infrastructure Programme and GH¢1.7 billion to the Road Maintenance Trust Fund. Agriculture received GH¢1.1 billion for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support flagship initiatives like Feed Ghana, alongside an additional GH¢551 million set aside in escrow for establishing Farmer Service Centres.

    “Investing in our roads, modernizing agriculture, and relieving the cost of education for families are non-negotiable priorities,” a spokesperson added during the parliamentary session. “These allocations directly strengthen our local economies and ensure long-term, sustainable growth across every region of the country.”

     

    Social intervention schemes were also covered, with GH¢877 million disbursed to the Ghana School Feeding Programme, GH¢485 million to the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) scheme, and combined millions allocated for teacher and nursing trainee allowances.

    Government concluded its address by assuring Parliament that it will maintain transparency and adhere closely to approved budgetary framework targets for the remainder of the fiscal year.

     

  • Experts urge policy shift as Ghana targets food self-sufficiency and global competitiveness

    Experts urge policy shift as Ghana targets food self-sufficiency and global competitiveness

    By Adnan Adams Mohammed

    Agriculture sector leaders and policy advocates are pushing for a major transformation of Ghana’s agricultural landscape, calling for consistent agribusiness investments, rapid input deployment, and inclusive training.

    The collective push aims to capitalize on the country’s vast agro-ecological potential to move the nation from food dependency to a globally competitive exporter.

    Industry executives note that while Ghana possesses the fundamental environmental resources required to attain self-sufficiency, maximizing this potential requires removing structural bottlenecks, engaging the youth, and catering to vulnerable smallholder groups.

    Unlocking Ghana’s agro-ecological and export potential

    Speaking at an agribusiness symposium in Accra, the President of the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), Davis Narh Korboe, emphasized that the country’s geography gives it a natural competitive advantage that remains largely untapped.

    “Ghana has the land, the climate, and the potential to not only feed itself but also to compete aggressively on the global market,” FAGE President stated. “We have the fertile soil and diverse agro-ecological zones necessary to cultivate high-value produce for export. What we need now is to shift our focus toward scalable commercialization, strict standardization, and strong trade logistics to turn this natural potential into actual economic returns.”

    This export-led vision was strongly supported by corporate leaders in the primary production sector. At an investor forum, an executive partner at Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) pointed out that sustainable, large-scale agribusiness represents the next frontier for foreign direct investment.

    “BOPP positions sustainable agribusiness as a key investment frontier,” the corporate executive noted. “Global capital is moving toward ESG-compliant, socially responsible agriculture. By embedding sustainability into our primary production chains whether in oil palm, rubber, or grains Ghana can attract the long-term institutional financing needed to build processing mills and create rural wealth.”

    Accelerated input distribution demanded to protect planting season

    Despite these bright investment prospects, civil society organizations warn that structural delays in state support channels threaten current production cycles. Reviewing the state’s flagship agricultural initiatives, social justice organization SEND Ghana issued an urgent appeal to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to fast-track its resource distribution.

    “We are calling on the government to urgently quicken farm inputs distribution under the Feed Ghana Initiative,” a formal statement from SEND Ghana urged. “Our field assessments across the Northern, Oti, Volta, and Bono East regions show that many smallholders are entering the planting season without essential seeds and fertilizers. If we do not eliminate these administrative delays immediately, we risk depressing yields, worsening food inflation, and undermining our national food security targets.”

    The group further emphasized that input allocation frameworks must purposefully prioritize young farmers and women to align with the core inclusive modalities of the national agricultural plan.

    Restructuring extension services for farmers with disabilities

    True sustainability also demands addressing systemic equity gaps within rural advisory frameworks. A newly published academic study has triggered fresh policy conversations by exposing major delivery shortfalls within state extension systems, revealing that standard field agents are poorly equipped to support vulnerable agricultural workers.

    “The study reveals that agricultural extension agents have remarkably low competence in delivering services to farmers with disabilities,” a lead researcher explained during a policy brief. “Thousands of physically and visually impaired smallholder farmers are effectively locked out of modern climate-smart technologies and agronomic best practices because our extension systems lack inclusive training models. Government must overhaul the curriculum at agricultural colleges to ensure that no farmer is left behind.”

    Mobilizing the youth: Shifting from suits to fields

    Amidst these operational adjustments, sector innovators are aggressively working to rebrand the image of farming to attract younger generations. Speaking to hundreds of prospective entrepreneurs at the Ghana Youth Agriculture Summit 2026, agritech pioneer Evans Kyere-Mensah challenged the youth to abandon traditional corporate stereotypes and embrace agritech.

    “For too long, many young people have been made to believe that success only exists in offices, in suits, in Accra, or somewhere abroad,” Kyere-Mensah asserted. “Many have been taught to see agriculture as a last option instead of one of the greatest opportunities of our generation… Do not despise small beginnings. Start small. Start where you are. Start with what you have.”

    Kyere-Mensah highlighted that sub-sectors like poultry, cassava value chains, and digital logistics platforms offer high-yield entrepreneurial pathways, urging youth to tap into existing support frameworks like the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) to launch their ventures.

    With the ministry currently balancing the expansion of the Feed Ghana Programme alongside upcoming private-sector packaging partnerships, structural stakeholders agree that synchronization across inputs, inclusivity, and capital will decide whether Ghana achieves total agricultural sovereignty.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ADB MD Lauds Government’s Feed Ghana Initiative

     

    Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC, Edward Ato Sarpong, has commended the government for its Feed Ghana initiative, describing it as a transformative intervention aimed at boosting agricultural productivity while creating employment opportunities across the country.

    The Feed Ghana Initiative, under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), is focused on expanding agricultural production and ensuring a stable supply of raw materials to support the growth of agro-industries. It is also designed to generate thousands of jobs for the youth and agripreneurs, and contributing to Ghana’s economic transformation.

    Mr. Ato Sarpong noted that the initiative resonates with ADB’s agenda of supporting national development through sustainable investment in agribusiness.

    “The initiative aligns with ADB’s new tagline; Beyond Banking…, which reflects the Bank’s unwavering commitment to delivering added value that reaches beyond traditional financial services,” he said.

    “Our purpose as a Bank is not only to finance agriculture but to be part of the broader transformation of lives and livelihoods. “Feed Ghana is precisely the type of initiative that will motivate us to innovate, make more deliberate investments, and accompany farmers, processors, and agri-SMEs on their path to growth and expansion,” he continued.

    Edward Ato Sarpong indicated the Bank will effectively collaborate with the government and MoFA to support projects under this initiative which covers areas such as Grains and Legumes Development, Smart Agriculture, Vegetable Development Project, Institutional Farming, the Poultry Sector Initiatives, Livestock Development, Cocoa Industry Project, Cotton Production Expansion, and Oil Palm Industry Development.

    “I strongly believe that the programme will strengthen the agric value chain by ensuring that agricultural produce is efficiently processed into food products and industrial inputs, help reduce post-harvest losses, and enhance food security in Ghana,” the MD stated.

    He further hinted at ADB’s readiness to serve as a key partner in actualizing these initiatives through tailor-made financing solutions, technical and advisory support, and capacity-building interventions.

    “We are already exploring new financing schemes and collaborations that will enable us meet the unique needs of agribusinesses under the Feed Ghana programme,” he said.

    The Agricultural Development Bank is repositioning to efficiently provide universal product offerings and digital banking solutions that best serve the evolving needs of our customers and the general public.

    The Bank recently launched its new corporate tagline called Beyond Banking… which is anchored on strategic partnerships and exceptional relationship management, customer experience, among others.