Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman has endorsed the government’s agricultural strategy, citing progress in stabilising food prices and boosting domestic production as authorities intensify efforts to reduce import dependence.
During a working visit to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, she praised sector minister Eric Opoku and his team for implementing programmes aimed at strengthening food security and improving farmer livelihoods.
“Food, we know, is the first basic necessity of life. It is food before clothing and shelter,” she said, urging stakeholders to sustain efforts to expand production and ensure long-term supply stability. The visit comes as food inflation sharply declines, with the agriculture minister stating that rates have fallen from 61% in 2023 to 3.8% in 2026, reflecting improved supply conditions and policy interventions.
Officials say the government’s Feed Ghana Programme, which underpins the strategy, is focused on increasing output, strengthening agricultural value chains and creating jobs. A key component is the push for institutional farming, which encourages organisations including churches and security agencies to engage in large-scale food production to cut import bills.
The Vice President also noted the role of women in agriculture, commending female farmers for contributing significantly to national output through targeted support programmes. She called for deeper collaboration with research bodies such as the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to drive innovation and improve productivity.
Mr. Opoku said initiatives such as the Nkoko Nketenkete poultry programme are aimed at boosting local meat production, supporting agro-processing and reducing reliance on imports.
Ghana’s agriculture policy is beginning to show measurable impact in easing food price pressures, a key driver of inflation in recent years. Sustaining these gains will depend on scaling production, improving value addition and maintaining investment in research and institutional farming. If successful, the strategy could reduce import dependence and strengthen economic resilience, though risks remain from climate variability and input costs.
