Former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has urged Ghana’s agribusiness sector to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to modernize operations, improve productivity, and boost global competitiveness.
Delivering a keynote lecture on “AI Disruptions and the Future of Work: Readiness of Our Youth” at the University of Media, Arts and Communications (UniMAC), Dr. Acheampong said AI is set to transform every aspect of agriculture, from planting and harvesting to market access and supply chain management.
“AI is not the future. It is the now. And agribusinesses that integrate these technologies will lead Ghana’s food security and export drive,” he said.
He cited practical AI applications such as precision agriculture, drone-based field monitoring, and machine-learning systems for weather prediction and crop disease detection.
According to the Minister, these technologies can significantly reduce post-harvest losses, enhance farm-level decision-making, and unlock new income streams for farmers.
Dr. Acheampong argued that Ghana’s youth can drive this transformation if given the tools, training, and investment.
He called on agribusiness companies to partner with universities and government agencies to support skills development in AI and agricultural technology.
“We cannot continue to depend on outdated farming methods while the world moves ahead. If we want to make agriculture attractive to young people, we must digitize it,” he added.
Dr. Acheampong also pointed out that integrating AI in agribusiness can reduce dependency on imports by strengthening local value chains.
He urged stakeholders to use AI tools for market forecasting, real-time commodity pricing, and logistics optimization to enhance food distribution systems.
Despite the promise, Dr. Acheampong acknowledged that barriers remain, especially for smallholder farmers who lack digital infrastructure and financing.
He called for coordinated investment in rural broadband access, AI training hubs, and financing models to help farmers and agritech startups acquire needed tools.
“We need to create an enabling ecosystem that supports innovation in agriculture. Government will do its part, but we need the private sector to lead with investment and creativity,” he said.
Dr. Acheampong’s remarks reflect a broader shift in government thinking, recognizing that achieving agricultural transformation will depend not just on subsidies or land access, but on technological integration and youth participation.
