Dr. Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, Volta Region’s representative on the Council of State, has lauded farmers as the “quiet architects” of Ghana’s national stability, stressing that no country can remain secure if it cannot feed itself.
Delivering the keynote address at the launch of the National Agricultural Fair and Exhibition at the Ho Sports Stadium, Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple praised the critical but often overlooked contributions of food producers to the nation’s wellbeing and economic progress.
“We celebrate the resilience, sacrifice and dedication of our farmers and fishers. They rise before dawn, labour under the hot sun, and persist even when challenges overwhelm them,” he said.
“They nourish the nation long before their work is acknowledged not for applause, but because the survival of families and communities depends on their courage.”
To illustrate the importance of interconnected roles along the agriculture value chain, he recounted an instance where a popular “waakye” vendor was unexpectedly absent, leaving customers stranded and frustrated.
He said the incident underscored how farmers, processors, traders and consumers form a unified system that moves food from the soil to society. “Without each link, the chain collapses,” he added.
Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple dismissed the long-standing debate over whether farmers or doctors are more important, describing it as unnecessary and divisive.
“The doctor saves lives at critical moments, but the farmer prevents countless crises by providing nourishment long before illness begins,” he said. “Agriculture is not a competition. It is a collaboration that determines the wellbeing of society.”
He highlighted the new government’s agricultural transformation agenda, including farmer service centres, the farm bank initiative, and expanded agribusiness support, as critical interventions to strengthen the sector the backbone of Ghana’s development.
Acknowledging persistent challenges such as high input costs, limited mechanisation, poor access to credit and post-harvest losses, he called for improved rural roads and stronger extension services to enhance productivity.
Dr. Kwamigah-Atokple also emphasised the Volta Region’s strong agricultural potential, citing fertile lands, favourable climate, reliable water sources and a hardworking farming population.
He said the region’s strengths in rice, cassava, maize, vegetables, cocoa, poultry, livestock and aquaculture position it as an emerging hub for food production.
“The Volta Region is ready. Ghana is ready,” he declared. “With united purpose and strategic investment, we can build a future where our nation is food secure, economically strong and fully capable of sustaining itself.”
Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Eric Opoku, said the theme for this year’s celebration, “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future,” serves as a call to boost food production, promote consumption of local foods and strengthen national food systems.
He described the fair as a platform for innovation and a showcase of progress in the agricultural sector.
He commended sponsors of the 2025 celebration, including the Agricultural Development Bank and Agrihouse Foundation, and urged more private-sector support for agriculture.
Chairing the event, Togbe Patamia Dzekle VII, Vice President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, expressed pride in his background as a fisherman and encouraged farmers and fishers to promote sustainable use of natural resources. “We cannot live without produce from our farms and rivers,” he said.
Monday’s ceremony marked the official start of activities leading to the 41st National Farmers’ Day celebration on Friday, December 5, in Ho.
