The African Development Bank (AfDB) is intensifying its efforts to support agricultural transformation and food security in Ghana through targeted investments that are already showing results in the northern savannah ecological zone.
This renewed focus was evident during a Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR) held in Accra, where Ghanaian officials and AfDB representatives jointly evaluated the performance of the Bank’s $850 million project portfolio, with agriculture emerging as one of the top-performing and high-impact sectors.
Key agricultural interventions, including the Savanna Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (SADEP) and the Savanna Investment Programme (SIP), were lauded for boosting production of staple crops such as maize, rice, soybeans, and poultry, while empowering thousands of farmers across northern Ghana.
“Commercial production is not only possible but is already happening,” said Ms. Theresa Fynn, National Project Coordinator for SADEP and SIP.
She said, “with AfDB support, we’re helping farmers move from subsistence to commercial agriculture with higher yields and better incomes.”
She said the projects are not only helping reduce Ghana’s food import bill but are also creating jobs, encouraging youth participation in farming, and supporting value chain development in underserved areas.
AfDB Country Manager, Ms. Eyerusalem Fasika, noted that the Bank remains committed to enhancing Ghana’s agricultural productivity as a foundation for inclusive growth and regional competitiveness.
“Food security, rural income, and climate-smart agriculture are at the heart of our work. We aim to deliver timely, results-driven interventions that lift communities out of poverty,” she said.
The review also examined other ongoing projects across energy, sanitation, transport, and institutional support. But agriculture drew particular attention for its ability to drive rapid and visible results, especially when linked with infrastructure and financial services.
Ms. Fasika urged project steering committees to speed up execution to maximize the value of every dollar invested. She added that timely delivery of results could also unlock more resources from other development partners.
In addition to farming, AfDB projects are investing in infrastructure, renewable energy, and institutional reforms, including the Ghana Cocoa Sector Institutional Support Project, the Eastern Corridor Road Development Programme, and the Mini Grid and Solar PV Net Metering Project.
But for rural Ghana, AfDB’s agricultural focus is changing lives.
“This support means that women farmers can feed their families and sell surplus produce. It means young people can find dignified work in agriculture,” said Ms. Fynn.
Mr. David Klotey Collison, Coordinating Director at the Ministry of Finance, said government agencies will work closely with the AfDB to scale up these agricultural successes and address implementation challenges across sectors.
“We’re fully committed to making sure these investments deliver meaningful and lasting change,” he said.
