The Ghana Youth Agriculture Summit, the first of its kind and a flagship initiative by Rev Evans Kyere-Mensah, a pastor and a farmer, has been launched.
The Summit aims at mobilizing the youth of Ghana to explore opportunities in Agriculture, encourage entrepreneurship and development driven by technology, and curb unemployment.
Speaking at the event, Rev. Okyere, the Founder of the initiative, opined that it is time for the youth to get engaged in agriculture since the government cannot provide for all their needs seeing that it has a limited budget.
“Ghanaian Youth in Agribusiness, the time is now. The government cannot provide us all jobs, and the lands are there. So what are you waiting for?”
Rev. Evans Kyere-Mensah
Adding to the remarks of the Founder, Mr. Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, the CEO of the National Entrepreneurship Initiative Program, also spoke at length on the “YouStart” initiative, adding that the initiative seeks to provide capital and training support for the young people with the desire to start their enterprises in the agriculture space.
Ghanaian youth should employ themselves
In addressing the youth, Mr. Dominic Oduro, the President of the Ghana-India Trade Advisory Chamber, said that the unemployment rate in Ghana keeps rising; hence, the youth should try and employ themselves other than be employed by somebody else. He encouraged the youth at the event to pay less attention to negative news and concentrate on the positive.
“it’s high time Ghanaians youth are trained to take up responsibilities and own their lives. About 5 million graduates churn out from various institutions every year with no jobs. Hence the youth should try as much as possible to employ themselves. The youth needs to pay attention to what they have been called to do.”
Mr. Dominc Oduro
Amma Serwaa Frimpong, who prides herself as a Queen Farmer and an agro-processor, iterated the need for young people to identify the problems in the value chain, and innovate to create viable, sustainable agribusinesses. She stressed the need for the government to role in initiatives that will encourage active female participation in agribusiness since they form a majority of the country’s populace.
Key stakeholders at the event
Actors and players in the industry also recounted their experiences and lessons. John Dumelo, an actor and Farmer, shared his journey thus far and the lessons learned with the youth.
The summit brought together key stakeholders from the agriculture sector to discuss the opportunities within the space and encourage the youth to take up agribusiness; to solve the unemployment problem in the country.
Honourable John Kumah, the Deputy Finance Minister, emphasized the government’s resolve to reduce unemployment, adding that a 200 million Ghana cedis fund has been established for that purpose. Other speakers included Dr. Louis Carol Serwaa Donkor, CEO of Nutrition and Exercise Lifestyle Intervention Program (NELIP), Richard Nunukpeku (a farmer and Lawyer), and Sepenica Darko of Farmer Tribe, amongst others.
The event was held on Saturday 9th, April 2022, on the KNUST campus at the Kumapley hall.
