Food and Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku says modernizing agriculture is key to tackling youth unemployment as he addressed a global forum on job creation in Africa in Rome.
Speaking at the high-level meeting in Rome, Opoku said agriculture remains central to Ghana’s economy, contributing nearly 30% of gross domestic product and employing about 24% of the workforce.
The minister said the sector must evolve to absorb a growing labor force, noting that about 160,000 young people enter Ghana’s job market each year. Opoku outlined government policies aimed at transforming agriculture into a more productive and commercially viable sector, including the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, the Feed Ghana Programme and the 24-Hour Economy Policy.
“These initiatives are aimed at turning farming into a business and strengthening links between agriculture and industry,” Opoku said. The programs focus on improving agricultural productivity and expanding opportunities along the value chain, including through irrigation development, construction of farm access roads, expansion of national food storage capacity and increased mechanization support for smallholder farmers.
“When farmers have access to inputs, markets, and infrastructure, they can expand production, create jobs, and drive economic growth,” Opoku said. The forum brought together international leaders and policymakers to discuss strategies for creating sustainable employment across the African continent. Participants included Ajay Banga, president of the World Bank, Giorgia Meloni, prime minister of Italy, and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, president of Singapore.
Opoku said Ghana is prioritizing investment, technology and financing to accelerate agricultural transformation while supporting youth employment and industrial growth.
He added that strengthening the agricultural sector would help build a more resilient economy while creating opportunities for young people across the country.
