The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced that Ghana’s food buffer stock system is now “back on track,” recording a profit of GHC91 million in 2025 for the first time in its history.
Speaking during a working visit by Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to the ministry on March 17, the Minister said government has significantly strengthened the country’s food security framework by expanding storage capacity and decentralizing operations.
According to him, buffer stock operations now have a presence in all regions, with vehicles procured for distribution to support regional activities.
“We want every region to have a functional food buffer. As we speak, all our warehouses are full,” he said, adding that government is now engaging private warehouse operators to store additional food supplies.
The Minister disclosed that the 2025 budget allocated GH¢100 million for food purchases, which was later increased by GH¢200 million, bringing the total to GH¢300 million.
He described the initiative as historic, noting that it marks the first time Ghana is building a strategic food reserve capable of covering the nation for up to six months in the event of emergencies.
The Minister also highlighted major improvements at the Tree Crops Development Authority, which has seen its internally generated funds rise sharply from GH¢6 million in 2024 to GH¢42 million in 2025.
The turnaround, he said, is due to strengthened enforcement, including the recruitment of 100 compliance officers deployed nationwide to ensure adherence to regulations in the tree crops sector.
He added that the authority plans to distribute six million seedlings to about 10,000 registered farmers later this year to boost production of crops such as cashew, mango, rubber, and coconut.
The Minister further outlined progress under the government’s flagship Feed Ghana Programme, aimed at positioning agriculture as a key driver of economic growth.
He said the programme has sparked widespread participation, with households encouraged to establish backyard gardens to support food security.
Security agencies and institutions have also been drawn into the initiative, with the Ghana Armed Forces, Prisons Service, and National Service actively expanding their farming operations.
“The military increased maize cultivation from 100 acres last year and is targeting between 400 and 500 acres this year,” he noted.
However, he expressed concern over the lack of participation by the Ghana Police Service, urging the Vice President to intervene to ensure their involvement.
Eric Opoku said the government has strengthened regulatory oversight through the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate, which now has modern equipment to test fertilizers and seeds to ensure quality standards.
He also raised concerns about Ghana’s heavy reliance on poultry imports, revealing that the country produces only about 4.6% of its poultry needs while spending over $300 million annually on imports.
To address this, the government has rolled out the ‘Akoko Nkitinkiti Programme, aimed at boosting local poultry production.
Under the initiative, a pilot phase in the Northern Region saw 720,000 birds distributed to 13,000 farmers, with positive feedback reported.
Following the official launch, the government has procured three million birds for nationwide distribution, with beneficiaries receiving training and support through brooding centres before collection.
So far, distribution has covered several regions, including Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, Bono, Bono East, Western North, and parts of the Central Region.
The Minister reiterated government’s commitment under President John Dramani Mahama to transform agriculture into a key engine of economic growth.
He noted that ongoing interventions are designed not only to improve food security but also to create jobs, reduce imports, and support livelihoods across the country.
The Vice President’s visit forms part of a broader tour of ministries to assess performance and support effective policy implementation across sectors.
By Evelyn Tengmaa
