The Market-Oriented Agriculture Programme in North-Western Ghana (MOAP NW) has organised the 2nd Agribusiness Fair and Conference in Wa under the theme, “Boosting the Agribusiness Potential of North-Western Ghana”.
MOAP NW is one of the key pillars of the EU Ghana Agriculture Programme (EU-GAP). The European Union supports the agriculture sector with over EUR 145 million, thus contributing to higher annual incomes of smallholder farmers’ households and secured permanent jobs along the supported value chains.
The event was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council (UWRCC).
Welcoming both on-site and virtual participants at the event, the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, remarked that “the theme is apt and cannot be overemphasized as agriculture has over the years been the driving force behind the economic growth of Ghana and for the fact that there is a shift in focus from aid to trade to drive Ghana’s development agenda”.
In the keynote address delivered on behalf of the Minister of Food and Agriculture, the Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (PPMED), Mr Richard Twumasi-Ankrah, noted that “the agriculture sector of Ghana needs to be transformed to trigger the socio-economic development of the nation, to achieve the objective of providing a lifeline for millions of households in terms of food and jobs”. He also called for more investments through agribusiness in the northwest of Ghana. “Collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders are paramount in harnessing the agribusiness potential of the programme area. This will also require more investment facilitation through complementary roles and responsibilities of all partners in the sector”.
Delivering a speech on behalf of the European Union (EU), the EU Deputy of Delegation to Ghana, Mr Pieter Smidt Van Gelder, highlighted the role of the EU and its partners in the promotion of agricultural development in Ghana. “The conference of today provides a platform to exchange views and experience on the challenges and opportunities of the agriculture sector in Northern Ghana,” he said.
The GIZ Country Director emphasised the strong partnership between the Government of Ghana, the EU and the German Government. “This crucial cooperation will improve capacity development and thus income-generating opportunities for various groups, especially women and the youth.” So far, 1,536 jobs have been created since 2018 through MOAP NW’s interventions.
The two-day event also comprised a grand exhibition and fair of agribusiness products and services, as well as agrotechnology displayed by over 30 exhibitors. The participating businesses also established B2B contacts and network linkages to foster growth.
In attendance also were the Overlord of Wala Traditional Area, Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, the Upper West Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Sasu-Yeboah, Team Leader for MOAP NW, Dr Elke Stumpf, private and public agribusiness partners and virtual participants from all over Ghana.
