Ghanaian farmers and agriculture sector stakeholders have received strong assurances of support from Mahamudu Bawumia, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, if he is elected president.
During his national campaign tour in Kejeji, Sene East, Bono East region, Bawumia’s running mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, outlined the NPP’s plans to strengthen the agribusiness sector and boost its role in national development.
Dr. Opoku Prempeh, known as ‘Napo,’ highlighted the significant potential for agribusinesses to grow and create thousands of new jobs, particularly through opportunities in food security, food exports, and AgriTech.
“The potential for expanding and creating thousands of new jobs in agribusiness in response to the opportunities in food security and food exports, including in AgriTech, is significant. That’s why under Dr. Bawumia’s presidency, we plan to make significant investments and reforms in the sector, including agricultural research, food production, food preservation, and value-addition,” he affirmed.
Dr. Prempeh also detailed the NPP’s strategic approach, which includes creating agricultural enclaves in each region tailored to their competitive advantages, with the support of the private sector. These enclaves are intended to invigorate local agribusinesses and help regions capitalize on their unique agricultural strengths.
In addition to physical infrastructure, the NPP plans to invest heavily in research and the development of digital and artificial intelligence technologies to improve food production and distribution.
“We shall also redirect Development Bank Ghana (DBG) to expand its financing and guarantee lines, especially through the proposed SME Bank that we will set up. This bank will support entities engaged in the manufacturing of value-added agricultural products consumed in large quantities by Ghanaians, including the processing and packaging of basic agricultural foods,” he noted.
The plan also includes strategic investments in agricultural research to enhance production efficiency, reduce post-harvest losses, and improve packaging for better freshness and longer shelf life. There will be a focus on farming in arid conditions and agricultural mechanization to tackle various environmental challenges.
Dr. Prempeh further announced that the government would expedite the growth of agro-industries by providing financing and guarantees through DBG and the Ghana Incentive-Based Risk-Share System for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL).
“This bank will support entities engaged in the manufacturing of value-added agricultural products consumed in large quantities by Ghanaians, including the processing and packaging of basic agricultural foods,” he reiterated.
Napo also emphasized that the government would accelerate the development of agro-industries “through financing and guarantees from Development Bank Ghana (DBG) and the Ghana Incentive-Based Risk-Share System for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL).”
