President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched the National Agribusiness Policy at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra.
The event, held under the banner of the National Agribusiness Dialogue, brought together government officials, farmers, investors, and development partners to chart a course for Ghana’s agro-industrial future.
The National Agribusiness Dialogue served as the platform for both the unveiling of the new policy and a detailed policy briefing.
The most significant policy announcement came during the president’s keynote address, when he revealed the approval of more than 600 pieces of agricultural machinery and equipment to support nationwide mechanisation.
“I’m pleased to report that under the ‘Big Push’ infrastructure programme, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has given the go-ahead for the acquisition of over 600 pieces of agricultural machinery and equipment for the set-up of eleven out of the fifty farmers’ service centres to be located in farming zones around the country.
“These tractors will not be sold to the farmers as we did in the past; they will be located at strategic farmers’ service centers to provide mechanisation support to farmers. And so farmers would have to register with the centres within their catchment areas”
President John Dramani Mahama
He stressed that this shift away from direct ownership toward centre-based access would ensure broader and more equitable use of the equipment. The service centres, he said, are designed to be accessible, accountable, and crucial to delivering modern farming tools directly to farmers without the burden of private purchase.
Reviving Nkrumah’s Dream
The president also anchored Ghana’s agribusiness transformation agenda in the legacy of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“My passion for agri-business is rooted in Ghana’s President Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah’s vision of creating an agro-industrial zone around the Volta Basin where agricultural raw materials would be processed for both local use and export”
President John Dramani Mahama
President Mahama emphasised the importance of political will and bold policy direction, calling for “courage and clarity” in pursuing the long-term transformation of Ghana’s agricultural and industrial sectors.
He pointed to three major programmes under his administration – the Feed the Industries Initiative, the Rapid Industrialisation Initiative, and the Accelerated Development Programme – as practical examples of this transformation.
“These initiatives, led by the Trade Ministry, form the foundation of the 24-hour economy policy and are designed to unlock massive potential across multiple sectors”
President John Dramani Mahama
Year-Round Farming
Another major shift outlined in Mahama’s policy briefing was the transition from seasonal agriculture to year-round production.
He announced that new irrigation systems will be installed to allow for continuous planting and harvesting, thereby strengthening the supply chain for agribusinesses and improving national food security.
“To ensure the success of our agri-business strategies, we must ensure the continuous availability of raw materials throughout the year. We are therefore transitioning from seasonal agriculture to year-round planting and harvesting powered by irrigation”
President John Dramani Mahama
This year-round model is expected to boost productivity, stabilise market supply, and make agro-processing more sustainable. According to the government, a dependable supply of raw materials is a prerequisite for scaling up industrial processing and achieving long-term agribusiness growth.
As part of the programme, President Mahama toured a series of exhibition stands where he engaged with agribusiness stakeholders and expressed admiration for local innovations. One striking moment came as he paused to examine vegetable products and remarked, “Wow… You grow this here in Ghana?”
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, which co-organised the dialogue, said the new policy would be implemented with private sector collaboration, technical support, and sustained community engagement.
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