Mr. Daniel Fahene Acquaye, Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Group, has said that, Ghana’s agriculture must move beyond subsistence farming and embrace agribusiness as a driver of wealth creation, job opportunities, and export competitiveness.
In an exclusive interview with The High Street Journal (THSJ), Mr. Acquaye stressed that the country’s agricultural policies and investments need a sharper focus on building competitive value chains.
He argued that while Ghana has long relied on cocoa as its agricultural backbone, there is vast untapped potential in horticulture, livestock, grains, and agro-processing that could create thousands of jobs and boost foreign exchange earnings.
“Ghana must move away from seeing agriculture as a means of survival. We need to see it as agribusiness-structured, efficient, and profitable. That is how we create wealth for farmers and position ourselves to compete under AfCFTA,” he said.
Mr. Acquaye explained that one of the persistent challenges farmers face is the lack of structured market access, which often leads to post-harvest losses.
He believes agribusiness should prioritize linkages between production and markets, ensuring that farmers are connected to processors, exporters, and retailers.
“We cannot keep producing without a clear market destination. That is why contract farming, commodity exchanges, and out-grower schemes are critical to the transformation of agriculture,” he told THSJ.
Touching on Ghana’s youth unemployment challenge, Mr. Acquaye emphasized the urgent need to integrate agribusiness education into technical and vocational institutions.
He said agriculture must be rebranded as an attractive, technology-driven sector capable of providing sustainable livelihoods.
“Many young people shy away from agriculture because they think it is about hoes and cutlasses. But today, agriculture is drones, precision farming, digital platforms, and export opportunities. If we equip the youth with agribusiness skills, they will not only employ themselves but also employ others,” he explained.
Mr. Acquaye also highlighted financing as a major barrier. He urged financial institutions to design loan products tailored for agribusiness, backed by risk-sharing mechanisms.
He further called on policymakers to ensure consistency in agricultural programmes, arguing that short-term political cycles often disrupt long-term sectoral growth.
“We need policy stability. Agribusiness takes time to mature. Governments must provide incentives for private investment in storage, irrigation, mechanization, and processing. That is how you transform a sector,” he said.
On regional trade, Mr. Acquaye was optimistic about the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He maintained that Ghana, as host of the AfCFTA Secretariat, should take the lead in positioning its agribusiness sector to dominate regional markets.
“AfCFTA opens a market of 1.4 billion people. But we can only compete if our agribusinesses meet standards, ensure consistent supply, and embrace value addition. Ghana should be exporting pineapples, mangoes, poultry, and processed foods across Africa—not just raw commodities,” he said.
Mr. Acquaye added that agribusiness is the most realistic path to Ghana’s industrialization and economic transformation.
He called for a mindset shift from subsistence farming to commercial, technology-driven agribusiness that integrates production, processing, and marketing.
“If we are serious about jobs, exports, and food security, agribusiness must be at the center of Ghana’s development agenda. Agriculture is not a poverty trap; it is a wealth-creating sector if managed as a business,” he told THSJ.
