Ghana Needs Pragmatic Agric Policy - WB

Dr Gobind Nankani, former Vice President for Africa at the World Bank (WB), yesterday said the nation's over dependence on imported food products is proof of a failed agricultural development policy.

'Ghana needs to adopt pragmatic agricultural policy reforms, develop the political will, provide guarantees to attract financial institutions to focus investment in the sector,' Dr Nankani stated at the first in a series of public think tanks lectures on the agricultural sector.

The lecture dubbed; 'Eminent Citizens' Policy Panel' was on the topic, 'The Challenge of Agriculture in Ghana: What is to be done.' It was organised by the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) and attended by economists, agriculturists, students, researchers and media practitioners.

Dr Nankani outlined a 10-point agenda for agricultural revolution in the country - increase agricultural base, build residual capacity of the nation, sustainable policy to reduce the yield gap, create land markets, involve local government and agricultural policy formation.

Others are resource researcher institutions; revamp producer-based organisations, improve marketing of products, create assess to farm lands and the political will to enforce prudent agricultural policy.

Dr Nanakani, who is also its President of the Global Development Network, argues that utilising even the most basic form of integrated performance measurement systems will assist greatly in strengthening the planning, decision-making and control capabilities of agricultural sector.

He noted that Africa is on the move and was on the verge of breaking out of the long economic stagnation of the 1970s and 1980s.

'The last 10 years have seen renewed growth and improved governance across a number of African states, setting the stage for taking advantage of opportunities that are emerging from a rapidly changing world economy.'