A visit by agribusiness chief executives from Indiana in the United States of America to Marphlix Trust Limited has deepened conversations around investment, technology transfer and youth-focused skills development in Ghana’s agriculture sector.
About 27 agribusiness CEOs from the Agri-Institute were in Ghana on an Agricultural Study and Leadership Tour and paid a working visit to Marphlix Trust Limited at Dawhenya, as part of efforts to explore collaboration opportunities between Ghanaian and American agribusiness players.
Learning and Collaboration, Not Comparison
Speaking after the visit, Dr Felix Kamassah, Chief Executive Officer of Marphlix Trust Limited, described the engagement as a mutual learning platform rather than a one-sided knowledge transfer.
“We learn from each other. They also learn from what we are doing here, and we also want to learn from what they are doing in the United States, especially in terms of technology,” he said.
Dr Kamassah explained that agriculture was evolving beyond production into a broader ecosystem that includes training, technology, tourism and exports, creating room for partnerships that add value across the supply chain.
He noted that members of the visiting delegation included farm owners and engineers, whose exposure to Ghana’s agricultural systems could spark joint ventures, technology deployment and investment collaborations.
Reviving Irrigation, Training Youth
The visit comes against the backdrop of Marphlix Trust’s growing role in youth training and export-oriented farming. In early 2025, the company revived a long-abandoned irrigation facility under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, transforming it into a practical training hub for young Ghanaians entering agribusiness.
Located at Dawhenya near Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, the facility was originally developed by the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority in partnership with Israeli firm Agritop. The site, which hosts about 100 greenhouse units, had remained unused for nearly eight years before its rehabilitation.
Today, the greenhouses serve as a hands-on learning environment, equipping trainees with practical skills in modern farming, irrigation management and export standards.
Agriculture as a Jobs Engine
Dr Kamassah said the initiative aligns with government efforts to reset the agriculture sector, stressing that irrigation development and private sector participation were critical to absorbing unemployed youth.
“Government cannot employ everybody, but agriculture can,” he said, noting that the sector offers opportunities not only for farmers but also for accountants, engineers, economists and logistics professionals.
He added that Marphlix Trust works closely with irrigation authorities and policy institutions to align private sector innovation with public sector priorities.
Reducing Imports Through Local Production
Highlighting Ghana’s dependence on imported tomatoes, Dr Kamassah said greenhouse tomato production was a strategic focus for the company.
“We import tomatoes we should be producing locally. What we’ve seen recently in the sub-region shows why we must close that gap,” he said, calling for coordinated efforts to align local production with consumer demand.
US Delegation Sees Global-Standard Practices
Cord Barricklow, a farmer and member of the US delegation, described the visit as highly beneficial, praising the scale and diversity of operations at Marphlix Trust.
“The mission of agriculture is the same everywhere – to feed, fuel and provide fibre. What impressed me most is the emphasis on youth training and the business side of farming,” he said.
He noted that greenhouse systems, drip irrigation, soil media and certified seeds observed on site matched global industry standards.
“These are practices being used worldwide. The potential here over the next few decades is enormous,” Mr Barricklow said.
Both sides expressed optimism that the engagement would translate into deeper partnerships, with agriculture positioned as a driver of exports, jobs and long-term economic growth for Ghana.
