The Coalition of Unemployed Agricultural Colleges Graduates is demanding urgent government intervention over delays in the recruitment of Veterinary, Crop and Extension Officers across the country.
The group says thousands of qualified agricultural graduates remain unemployed despite repeated promises by government to strengthen Ghana’s agricultural sector through increased extension and veterinary services.
At a press briefing, the coalition expressed frustration over what it describes as years of neglect and unfulfilled commitments by authorities.
According to the group, more than 1,000 trained Veterinary, Crop and Extension Officers have remained unemployed for nearly seven years after graduating from various agricultural institutions across the country.
The coalition referenced a pledge made by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the 2021 National Farmers’ Day celebration to recruit 1,100 agricultural officers to support extension and veterinary services nationwide.
However, the group claims only about half of the promised personnel have been employed, leaving many graduates still without jobs.
They further stated that the number of unemployed agricultural graduates has now risen to nearly 5,000, raising concerns about the future of agricultural development and food security in the country.
According to the coalition, the shortage of extension officers and veterinary professionals is negatively affecting food production, livestock health and agricultural transformation efforts.
The group also raised concerns over the implementation of the Feed Ghana Programme under the National Service Scheme.
They alleged that several graduates posted under the programme have not received allowances after three months of service, while others continue to face delays in appointment letters and placement challenges at district offices of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
The coalition is therefore calling on President John Dramani Mahama, Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku, and Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to urgently grant financial clearance for the recruitment of qualified agricultural graduates.
They warned that failure by government to take concrete action within 21 days could lead to lawful nationwide demonstrations.
Some members of the coalition shared personal stories of hardship and frustration resulting from years of unemployment.
Yahaya Ruhaima, who completed school in 2017, said she now sells soya kebab to support her husband and three children.
“I completed school in 2017 and up till now, there is no job for me. Some of us are married with children, but we have no money to take care of our families. Me standing here, I’m selling soya in the market. If you see me, you won’t even know I went to school. We are suffering and we need employment.”
Another member of the coalition, Suale Osman, who graduated in 2018, also appealed to government to intervene.
“I completed school in 2018 and up till now I’m still at home without a job. I have a wife and two children, so if I don’t get employment, how do I take care of them? We are begging President Mahama and the Agriculture Minister to do something because we are suffering.”
He further appealed to government to prioritize older batches during recruitment exercises to restore confidence among current students in agricultural colleges.
The coalition insists agricultural graduates deserve equal employment opportunities just like professionals in the education and health sectors, stressing that strengthening extension and veterinary services remains critical to Ghana’s food security and agricultural transformation agenda.
By: Nadra Mohammed
