The government has allocated GH₵1.5 billion towards its Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, a strategic initiative aimed at revitalizing the agricultural sector and creating jobs.
Announcing the initiative, Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, stated that despite financial constraints, this move underscores the administration’s commitment to boosting local food production and strengthening the economy.
Speaking on JoyNews on Wednesday, March 12, he revealed that the initiative comprises various programs, including the Feed Ghana Program, the Ghana Greens Development Project, and the Vegetable Development Project, designed to enhance agricultural productivity.
A key component of the plan, he noted, is ‘Nkokɔ Nketenkete’, a Poultry Farm to Table Project, aimed at revamping Ghana’s struggling poultry industry.
“What we call Nkokɔ Nketenkete, which, unfortunately, our political opponents mocked when President Mahama first mooted the idea, is aimed at bolstering the poultry sector, which, incidentally, as we speak, has collapsed,” Mr. Ofosu explained.
While poultry is the starting point, he emphasized that the initiative will extend support to farmers engaged in grain production, vegetable farming, rice cultivation, and tuber farming, ensuring a diversified approach to agricultural transformation.
Mr. Ofosu also addressed concerns about whether GH₵1.5 billion would be adequate to drive the initiative. He acknowledged the financial limitations but reassured that this is only the first phase of a long-term investment plan.
“As the economy expands, as more money becomes available to government, we are going to increase allocations to ensure that as many of our people as possible are able to venture into agriculture, which we believe is one of the ways that we can create jobs, especially where unemployment remains one of the biggest problems that we have,” he stated.
