Finance Ministry releases GH¢1.677bn to agriculture sector under AgriConnect Programme

The Ministry of Finance has released GH¢1.677 billion to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture this year, representing 85 per cent of the ministry’s approved budget for goods, services, and capital expenditure.

The Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, disclosed this in Accra on Wednesday, noting that the Mahama administration is backing its agricultural transformation agenda with substantial financial commitments and targeted investments.

He said the government’s investment in agriculture is reflected in several flagship programmes being rolled out under President John Dramani Mahama.

Mr Nyarko Ampem made the disclosure at the launch of Ghana’s National Pact for Agricultural Transformation, Food Security and Employment (AgriConnect Compact), a five-year initiative aimed at transforming the agricultural sector.

AgriConnect is designed to create 2.6 million jobs, improve food security, and reduce Ghana’s reliance on food imports. Developed in collaboration with development partners including the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the African Development Bank, the programme focuses on strengthening agricultural value chains, boosting productivity, and expanding agro-processing nationwide.

The initiative targets key commodities such as rice, maize, cocoa, oil palm and poultry, with smallholder farmers positioned at the centre of the transformation agenda. The broader $1.5 billion programme is expected to drive rice self sufficiency and eventually end imports.

Mr Nyarko Ampem said the government’s vision goes beyond increasing production, aiming instead to transform the entire agricultural value chain, enhance food security, create jobs and support economic growth.

He added that the timely release of funds demonstrates government commitment to financing critical interventions in the sector, countering claims of inadequate funding to key ministries.

Providing a breakdown, he said GH¢581.4 million has been released for the establishment of 50 Farmer Service Centres nationwide to improve mechanisation and productivity.

An additional GH¢110 million has been allocated for irrigation infrastructure to support year round farming, while GH¢515.3 million has been released for fertilisers and certified seeds to boost yields.

He further noted GH¢244.9 million for the Poultry Farm to Table initiative, known as Nkoko Nkitinkiti, and GH¢200 million for the National Food Buffer Stock Company to strengthen storage and distribution systems.

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, said the programme is designed to reposition agriculture as agribusiness, with a strong focus on job creation and value addition.

He explained that the compact was developed through collaboration between ministries and development partners to support the government’s agricultural transformation agenda.

On rice production, Mr Opoku said the government will support processors with modern milling equipment, with the aim of ensuring that within five years Ghana can produce 105 per cent of its rice demand, eliminating imports.

He added that similar interventions will be implemented in poultry, cocoa and oil palm to boost local production and processing.

The World Bank Practice Manager, Abel Lufafa, said AgriConnect is designed to increase productivity, improve farmer incomes and create jobs along agricultural value chains. He noted that the initiative is part of a global effort to support 300 million farmers by 2030 in transitioning from subsistence to commercial farming.

The programme, he said, also aims to address food security and youth unemployment challenges across participating countries.