Although the suspension of USAID’s operations is a big blow to the world, The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana sees it as a wake-up call for the country to heavily invest in priority sectors of the economy.
The chamber says the development is an opportunity for the country to take the Ghana Beyond Aid mantra seriously and back it with actions to attain self-sufficiency.
Ghana joins about 120 countries that will be affected by the foreign policy changes under the Donald Trump administration and the restructuring of USAID.
On an annual basis, the country receives an average of US$150 million from USAID to support various initiatives in sectors such as education, agriculture, health, and the economy.
Ghana, in 2025, requested assistance worth US$137.7 million from USAID, of which US$33 million was allocated to the agricultural sector. With the suspension of its operations, the expected amount is likely to be in limbo, putting earmarked initiatives in jeopardy, as they rely on this assistance.
CEO of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana, Anthony Morrison, is therefore emphasizing that there is an urgent need for the government to realign its investments in sectors that will help mitigate the impact of the suspension.
In his view, one of the priority areas is the agricultural sector in the wake of the threat to food security.
The chamber also recommends that the country prioritize enhancing its competitive advantage in agriculture to better position itself in West African agricultural trade.
“What is needed now is a commitment from the government to invest in the priority sectors of the country and also to ensure that we are aligning our priorities in a way that will drive a more competitive advantage within the West African sub-region because we do a lot of cross-border trade,” the CEO noted in an interview monitored by The High Street Journal.
He emphasized, “We have to ensure there is food security in this country.“
As the effects of the USAID suspension unfold, industry leaders are calling for urgent government action to protect Ghana’s agricultural sector.
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana is calling for a clear and practical plan to secure the country’s food supply, keep Ghana competitive in regional trade, and protect the jobs and incomes of farmers and agribusiness workers nationwide.
