The Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang says Ghana is steadily moving from exporting raw materials to producing finished goods that capture real value.
She says the country has the potential to produce its own food, rather than import it, and announced government initiatives such as the Grow24 programme to support the goal.
The Vice President delivered a keynote address at the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue, at Iowa in the United States when she made the comments.
In her speech, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said Ghana spends over 2 billion dollars annually to import food that can be produced locally, and stressed the need to change the narrative.
“Nearly two out of every five Ghanaians work in agriculture, but the sector faces persistent challenges. Ghana spends more than USD 2 billion annually importing food we have the climate and capacity to produce. This must change.”
She said government is implementing a five-year Agricultural Risk Management Strategy, focusing on crops like poultry, tomato, and maize, to enhance food security and promote sustainable agriculture.
“President John Dramani Mahama’s bold vision for agricultural transformation is centered on the Feed Ghana Programme, which is a coordinated, market-driven initiative spanning 22 commodity value chains, including; grains and legumes, vegetables, starchy staples, tree crops and livestock. It is designed to tackle systemic weaknesses in irrigation, storage and processing, digital integration, cooperative development and market access.”
She said another initiative by government is the Grow24 Programme. “As part of the 24-Hour Economy, Grow24 seeks to modernize agriculture and value chains, support agro-manufacturing, and drive export-ready agribusiness.”
The Vice President acknowledged that women constitute more than half of Ghana’s agricultural workforce but face barriers to land, credit, technology and training. “Our Women’s Development Bank will help correct these inequities. We are also investing heavily in youth-led agritech, mechanization services and digital market platforms.”
Professor Opoku-Agyemang said the country is steadily shifting from exporting raw materials to producing finished goods that capture real value. “With AfCFTA headquartered in Accra, we are positioned to build regional value chains, scale agro-exports and empower youth and women across borders.”
She invited invited investors, governments, universities, development banks and foundations to partner with Ghana.
She later had a fireside conversation with Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank from 2015 to 2025 which revolved around Ghana’s approach to agriculture and development.
The Vice President also helped to present the 2025 World Food Prize to Dr. Marieangela Hungria, a Brazilian agronomist and microbiologist renowned for pioneering research on biological nitrogen fixation.
The Norman Borlaug International Dialogue, organized by the World Food Prize Foundation, brings together global leaders and experts to discuss critical issues of food security and sustainable agriculture.
Veep Opoku-Agyemang addresses members of Ghanaian Association in Iowa, USA
