Ghana’s agricultural sector has long been the backbone of the economy, sustaining livelihoods, driving exports, and ensuring food security. Yet, recent policy changes have sparked concerns about the future effectiveness of agricultural governance.
Dr. Frank Ackah, Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast’s Department of Crop Science and a leading voice for sustainable farming and home gardening, has cautioned that the relocation of key sectors such as Cocobod to the Ministry of Finance and agribusiness oversight to the Ministry of Trade could weaken MOFA’s central authority.
“Cocobod and agribusiness are the heartbeat of agricultural administration,” Dr. Ackah told the High Street Journal. “If these sectors continue to be removed from MOFA, the ministry risks losing its capacity to plan, supervise, and deliver technical support to farmers across the country.”
He acknowledges the government’s rationale: enhanced financial oversight, transparency, and proper regulation of funds. “I understand that moving Cocobod under finance aims to regulate the sector better, and there may be benefits in financial management,” he said.
However, he warns that if the process continues unchecked, the agricultural sector could lose its power to coordinate and implement effective policies. “Extension officers, who provide vital guidance to farmers, are being fragmented across ministries. One focuses solely on Cocobod under Finance, another on general crops under MOFA, creating confusion and inequitable access to resources,” he explained.
Dr. Ackah emphasizes that this fragmentation affects smallholder farmers the most, who rely on a single, coordinated point of contact for technical support, input supplies, and market information. Without a strong central ministry, holistic agricultural development could be compromised.
Drawing parallels between health and education, he stressed the need for an autonomous Ghana Agriculture Service, modeled after the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Education Service. “Agriculture deserves the same structure to ensure resources are allocated efficiently, policies implemented consistently, and farmers properly supported,” he said.
He also points to the broader implications in that misaligned governance could lead to poor crop planning, delayed interventions, and safety risks for farmers handling pesticides without proper guidance.
“The farmer feeds the nation. Weakening the service supporting them threatens everyone,” Dr. Ackah noted.
“If we continue to strip the ministry of its critical functions, we risk weakening the very engine that drives Ghana’s agricultural development,” he said.
