Ghana is close to approving a national agribusiness policy aimed at accelerating investment, innovation and value addition in agriculture, the trade minister said at the opening of the Ghana AgroTech Fair.
Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, said the policy is awaiting cabinet approval and will provide a framework to transform the sector into a key driver of industrial growth and exports.
“I am proud to announce that our national agribusiness policy is about to receive Cabinet approval, signaling the highest level of political will to drive transformation of our agricultural and agribusiness sector.”
The policy forms part of a broader strategy aligned with Ghana’s medium-term development plan for 2026–2029 and continental trade initiatives, including the African Continental Free Trade Area, as the government seeks to position the country as a leading agribusiness hub in West Africa.
Speaking at the event attended by President John Dramani Mahama, Ofosu-Adjare said the government is working to address structural constraints in agriculture by promoting agribusiness development, innovation and market access.
“As part of the Ministry’s realigned mandate, we are poised to answer the persistent questions of how we close the gap between agricultural potential and agricultural performance through agribusiness.” The AgroTech Fair, organised in partnership with the Ghana Export-Import Bank, is designed to showcase local technologies, connect investors with agribusinesses and promote solutions to improve productivity across the agricultural value chain.
“Through this fair, we are sending a strong signal to use innovation and technology to drive the agribusiness sector.”
The minister said the government is focused on removing regulatory and financing barriers that limit the growth of local agrotech firms, while creating incentives to support domestic manufacturing and expand export opportunities. “We are working to eliminate the regulatory and financial barriers that prevent our local agrotech manufacturers from scaling.”
She added that the administration is prioritising policies that encourage import substitution and open new markets for Ghana-made agricultural products and technologies. “We are creating the policy environment that rewards innovation, supports import substitution, and open export markets for Ghana-made agricultural solutions.”
The fair is expected to attract farmers, startups, manufacturers and investors, highlighting opportunities in mechanisation, digital agriculture and agro-processing. Ofosu-Adjare said the initiative also aims to promote inclusion by supporting youth and women in agribusiness through access to technology, mentorship and market linkages.
“To our young people and women in agribusiness, this fair holds something specific for you.” The government’s push underscores a broader shift toward leveraging agriculture as a platform for industrialisation, job creation and export growth, with policymakers seeking to move beyond raw commodity production to higher-value processing and technology-driven solutions.
