Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has urged Ghanaian youth to see agriculture and the entire food systems value chain as a serious business opportunity capable of creating jobs and wealth, rather than a last resort.
Speaking to a delegation of Ghanaian agribusiness entrepreneurs and officials on the side-lines of the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Kigali, Mr Dumelo said Ghana cannot achieve food security and lower food prices if young people continue to shy away from the sector.
He painted a stark picture of Ghana’s current farming demographics, warning that the country’s food production is in the hands of an ageing population.
“If you look at Ghana, the farming age is in the 50s. The young ones are shying away. But the narrative is changing. More youth are getting into farming and value addition.”
Hon. Dumelo
According to him, while the challenge is real, there are encouraging signs that more young Ghanaians are beginning to embrace agriculture, particularly in agribusiness, processing and value addition.
Mr Dumelo used the platform to reframe the concept of participation in agriculture. He stressed that young people do not have to own a farm or hold a cutlass to benefit from the multi-billion-dollar food economy.
“Not everyone can be a farmer, but everyone can be an agripreneur,” he stated. He explained that the food system is broad and offers entry points at every stage from input supply, production, aggregation, processing, packaging, cold chain logistics, marketing, distribution and export.
For him, the mind set shift from farmer to agripreneur is critical to attracting the youth, who are more interested in technology, innovation and profitability.
The Deputy Minister, who himself transitioned from entertainment into commercial farming before entering public service, acknowledged the genuine barriers young people face when trying to enter the sector.
He said concerns about access to land and access to finance are valid and frequently raised by youth across the country. Rather than offering abstract promises, he advised a pragmatic approach start small, learn practically, and scale gradually.
“Learning on the job is always very good,” he told the gathering, emphasizing that hands-on experience often teaches what classrooms cannot. He urged young agripreneurs to prioritize discipline and professionalism in their operations, especially in how they manage information and finances.
Keep Proper Records to Attract Investment
According to Mr Dumelo, one of the biggest obstacles preventing young agribusinesses from attracting investors, banks and development partners is poor record keeping. He advised the entrepreneurs to keep proper books, document their production, sales and expenses, and be able to show growth and viability.
He reiterated, adding that keeping proper records of their businesses makes it easier for potential investors and other stakeholders to support them. He said government, investors and banks are more willing to support businesses that can demonstrate structure and accountability.
Mr Dumelo also used the engagement to outline what he said are the immediate priorities of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture under the current administration. He said the ministry is determined to leave a clear mark within the next four years in three critical areas – poultry production, value addition and reducing the cost of food.
He noted that Ghana still spends huge sums importing poultry products, rice, tomato paste and other commodities that can be produced locally, a situation he described as unacceptable. “As a ministry, we want to leave a mark in the poultry industry, value addition, and reducing the cost of food. We want to leave a mark on these in the next four years.”
He explained that the broader objective is to improve both availability and affordability of food for Ghanaians, while creating jobs along the value chain. He linked this ambition to flagship programmes such as the Feed Ghana Programme, which he said contains specific opportunities for young people in production, input distribution and aggregation.
Ministry is Open to Ideas and Partnership from Youth
Mr Dumelo assured the youth delegation that the ministry is open to ideas and partnerships and that his doors remain open for further engagement. His call comes at a time when youth unemployment remains a pressing national challenge, with thousands of graduates entering the job market annually with limited opportunities in the formal sector.
The 20th edition of the Forum is being held from September 1 to 4, 2026, at the Kigali Convention Centre under the theme “Investing in Africa’s Agri-Food Systems: Nourishing Nations, Growing Jobs, Building Resilience.”
Organisers say more than 5,000 stakeholders from over 50 countries, including heads of state, ministers, investors, researchers, farmer groups and youth leaders, are participating to take practical action and share lessons that will move African food systems forward.
For Mr Dumelo, the Forum is not just about dialogue but about positioning Ghanaian youth to benefit from investments and partnerships that will emerge. He expressed confidence that with the right support, young Ghanaian agripreneurs can transform Ghana’s food system from one dominated by subsistence farming to one driven by enterprise, technology and export.
He concluded with a charge to the youth to return home not just with contacts and photos from Rwanda, but with a renewed commitment to build businesses that feed Ghana and create jobs for others.
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