Accra, Ghana— The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has distributed 500 motorbikes to agricultural extension officers nationwide to enhance extension services and drive food production.
During a handover ceremony in Accra, the Minister highlighted the urgent need to revitalize Ghana’s agricultural sector, pointing to rising food prices and excessive food imports as pressing challenges.
Hon. Opoku described Ghana’s current agricultural state as “unfavorable,” revealing that the country spends over $2 billion annually on food imports. However, he noted progress in curbing food inflation, which has dropped from 61% before the current administration took office to now 32%.
“Rising food prices plunge many into poverty,” Hon. Opoku stated. “Given our vast resources, why can’t we produce enough to feed ourselves and even export?”
He attributed Ghana’s reliance on imports to weak food systems and announced sweeping reforms, including modernizing soil testing and rehabilitating the Kumasi Soil Laboratory set to become the first of its kind in the sub-region.
“We are moving away from blanket fertilizer use, which has failed to boost yields.
With support from FAO and AGRA, we are ensuring soil tests, fertilizer checks, and seed viability assessments before farm application,” he explained.
Additionally, the Minister highlighted the formation of 42,822 registered farmer cooperatives, enabling better access to training, financing, and markets.
Despite these efforts, Ghana faces a critical shortage of extension officers, with one officer serving nearly 1,500 farmers far exceeding the recommended ratio of 1:500.
To bridge this gap, the Ministry is recruiting Feed Ghana Coordinators and equipping officers with essential tools.
“Today, we present the first batch of 150 motorbikes out of 500 procured, including 30 gender-friendly units for female officers,” Hon. Opoku announced.
He urged responsible use of the motorbikes to ensure remote farmers benefit from government support.
“These motorbikes will enhance mobility, accessibility, and efficiency.
Together, we can build a resilient agricultural sector to feed our nation and fuel the 24-hour economy” he concluded.
