Charity Adupong, CEO of Meannan Foods, is shining a spotlight on gender bias and farmer resistance as key challenges in Ghana’s agribusiness sector. Despite these setbacks, Adupong has empowered over 200 farmers and maintained a 70% female workforce at her company, advocating for greater inclusion and collaboration in the industry.
Adupong highlights the gender bias faced by women in leadership, particularly in the male-dominated agribusiness sector. She notes that her position as a CEO often requires proving her competence in an environment where male farmers are resistant to taking direction from women. “Women in leadership are often undervalued, despite the impact they make in driving business success. Most male farmers I have worked with find it difficult to follow my directives because they think I am just a woman,” Adupong explained.
In addition to gender-related challenges, Adupong faces difficulties in convincing smallholder farmers to adopt modern, sustainable farming practices. “Many farmers still rely on outdated methods, and transitioning them to more efficient techniques is a major challenge,” she said. Limited access to quality inputs, irrigation, and climate-resilient strategies further hampers growth in the agricultural value chain.
Despite these obstacles, Meannan Foods has made strides in addressing inefficiencies. Adupong’s company sources raw materials from over 200 smallholder farmers, providing them with financial stability and access to training programs. Over time, many of these farmers have expanded their operations, with improvements in both farm size and productivity—a source of personal fulfillment for Adupong.
Adupong stresses that more private-sector collaboration, government support, and financial backing are essential to scaling these efforts and achieving long-term agricultural sustainability. “We need to change the narrative. Women are not just contributors in agribusiness; they are leaders driving innovation and transformation,” she emphasized.
As Ghana’s agribusiness sector continues to grow, Adupong’s leadership highlights the need for stronger support systems to ensure women leaders play a central role in driving the industry’s success.
