The convener of Ghana Youth Agriculture Summit, Evans Kyere-Mensah has revealed the mastery of making wealth and that is agriculture to the youth during the 2026 Ghana Youth Agriculture Summit that was held in Bono Region.
According to the convenor, agriculture is not a punishment, nor the last option in life, rather it is a business that involves technology to create wealth.
“Many have been taught to see agriculture as a last option instead of one of the greatest opportunities of our generation. But let me say this clearly today: Agriculture is not poverty, agriculture is not punishment, agriculture is business, agriculture is industry, agriculture is technology, and agriculture is wealth creation,” he added
To elucidate the wealth creation, he said farmers feed the entire population on the planet daily; the products been cocoa, cassava, maize, poultry, vegetables, fruits, and livestock that are consumed daily is the trillion-dollar industry for the youth to tab in to.
He mentioned that the youth should take the mantle and focus on the opportunities in the agriculture sector. Most of the youth are interested in office jobs that do not exist when their families have fallow lands in their hometowns that they can develop to produce food for the state.
He advised the youth to venture into agriculture by starting small, “do not despite small beginnings, many young people are waiting for big capital before they start, but history teaches us that great businesses rarely begin big: begin with vision, consistency, and courage”.
He further said that the future millionaire in agriculture may not start with 100 acres, it may start with one acre, one greenhouse, one poultry pen, one processing machine, or one bold decision.
Interestingly, he explained opportunities that have been created by the government institutions like NEIP, National Service Authority, youth entrepreneurship initiatives, skills development programs, agribusiness incubation projects, and private sector interventions designed to support young individuals who have interest in agriculture with training, mentorship, financing access, and enterprise development but these opportunities are for those who have prepared.
To gain wealth, do not wait for perfect conditions nor somebody to save you, and not to underestimate the beginning, he admonished the youth.
He urged all build a generation of young Ghanaians who do not only seek jobs, but to create industries, employment, value addition to transform to wealth.
Ghana plans to call on global cocoa buyers and chocolate manufacturers to invest directly in African cocoa farms as producing countries face rising costs tied to sustainable production and regulatory compliance.
The proposal is expected to form a central part of discussions at the 2027 World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting, which will be hosted in Accra for the first time since the summit was established roughly two decades ago.
Randy Abbey, chief executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board, said producing countries should no longer carry the financial burden of maintaining a viable and sustainable cocoa industry alone.
“The quest for a financially viable industry cannot and should not be the sole burden of producing countries,” Abbey said during the summit launch ceremony.
Ghana intends to advocate for a broader financing model involving international chocolate companies, cocoa traders and global buyers.
The country’s proposals are expected to include investment in replanting aging cocoa farms, replacing diseased trees, improving farm productivity and supporting sustainability programmes.
Ivory Coast and Ghana together account for roughly 60% of global cocoa production, yet much of the sector remains dominated by smallholder farmers with relatively low incomes despite the global cocoa industry generating an estimated $100 billion annually.
Both governments currently spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year supporting farmers through fertilizer distribution, seedlings, disease management and regulatory compliance programmes.
The summit is also expected to address the financial implications of the European Union’s new deforestation regulations, which require cocoa imported into Europe to be fully traceable and verified as deforestation-free.
The rules are scheduled to take effect later this year and are expected to increase compliance costs across cocoa-producing countries.
Abbey said sustainability compliance costs should not disproportionately burden poor farmers and producing nations.
“We need a fair, transparent pricing structure that reflects the true cost of sustainable production,” he said.
The push for greater buyer participation comes after a period of sharp volatility in global cocoa markets.
Cocoa prices surged to record highs in late 2024 before falling sharply, creating financial disruptions across supply chains in both Ghana and Ivory Coast.
The market instability has also prompted discussions around reforming domestic cocoa pricing systems in the two countries.
Authorities are now considering more flexible pricing mechanisms that adjust more frequently to global market movements rather than maintaining largely fixed seasonal prices.
The debate reflects growing pressure across Africa’s agricultural commodity sectors for fairer value distribution and increased local participation in global supply chains.
The Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has announced a minimum producer price of GH¢5.22 per kilogram for second-grade fresh mango for the 2026 major season.
The Authority said the price was determined in consultation with key stakeholders, including the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) and other actors within the mango value chain.
A statement issued by the TCDA said the announcement was made in accordance with Section 3(f) of the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010) and Regulation 47(1) of the Tree Crops Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2471).
It said the intervention was aimed at ensuring fair pricing, improving export competitiveness and promoting transparency in the marketing of selected tree crops.
The statement said Ghana’s mango sector continued to grow as one of the country’s promising tree crop industries, contributing to export earnings, rural employment and agroindustrial development.
It said producers with first-grade mangoes could negotiate premium prices above the minimum producer price to encourage quality production within the sector.
The Authority reiterated that all actors within the selected tree crops value chain, including nursery operators, service providers, input dealers, aggregators, exporters and processors, were required to register and obtain licences in line with existing regulations.
The statement said the registration and licensing exercise would improve standards, ensure traceability, promote quality assurance and strengthen regulation within the sector.
The TCDA regulates six selected tree crops in Ghana namely mango, coconut, cashew, rubber, oil palm and shea.
The Produce Buying Company (PBC) says it has secured a financing facility backed by a GH₵30 million credited cocoa stock to enable it pay farmers promptly amid ongoing liquidity challenges within Ghana’s cocoa sector.
The move comes at a time several Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) continue to struggle with severe cash constraints and delayed payments to farmers, a situation that has heightened concerns across the cocoa supply chain.
Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Produce Buying Company and the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association (GNACOFA), Deputy Managing Director in charge of Finance, Thomas Ayisi described the facility as a major intervention aimed at restoring confidence among cocoa farmers, and repositioning the company after years of financial difficulties.
“PBC has secured a facility for paying credited stocks from farmers. In doing so, we distinguish ourselves from competitors who still owe. This act restores credibility and rebuilds trust at the grassroots which is the very foundation of our sector.”
“This GNACOFA-backed facility, which was supported by 30 million cedis credited stocks, is proof that PBC is not merely surviving but actively restructuring”, he said.
According to him, the financing arrangement will strengthen PBC’s operational capacity and ensure timely payments to farmers during the cocoa purchasing season.
Mr. Ayisi noted that the company remains committed to rebuilding its relationship with cocoa farmers by improving efficiency and addressing longstanding challenges that have affected operations in recent years.
He added that the partnership with GNACOFA forms part of broader efforts to deepen collaboration with farmers and enhance sustainability within the cocoa sector.
The National President of the Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association, Stephenson Anane Boateng said the partnership will support efforts to address major challenges confronting the cocoa sector including smuggling and illegal mining.
“This partnership with PBC presents an opportunity to establish stronger systems and structures that will directly support cocoa farmers and improve their welfare.
The agreement is also expected to help stabilise farmer incomes at a time the sector continues to face financing and operational pressures.
Cocoa farmers in Ghana are currently earning more per bag than their counterparts in neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire, Nana Attakorah Asante has said, rejecting opposition claims that producers are worse off under the current administration.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Nana Attakorah Asante, Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) Constituency, said current cocoa prices showed that Ghanaian farmers were earning more than their counterparts in Côte d’Ivoire and described attempts to suggest otherwise as politically misleading.
His remarks followed recent visits by some leading New Patriotic Party (NPP) members, led by Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South, to communities within the constituency, including Obengkrom, where they engaged cocoa farmers and criticised the government’s cocoa pricing policies and economic management.
Mr Asante said the NPP delegation entered some cocoa-growing communities to convince farmers that the government had failed them following recent cocoa price adjustments linked to global market downturns and economic pressures.
However, he said prevailing cocoa prices within the West African sub-region showed that Ghanaian farmers were earning more than their counterparts in Côte d’Ivoire, accusing the delegation of spreading “falsehood” to mislead farmers.
“They came into the communities and told cocoa farmers that this government has cheated them on prices, but that is not the reality on the ground,” he said. “As we speak, Ghana cocoa farmers are earning more than those in Côte d’Ivoire.”
He added that claims that cocoa farmers had stronger purchasing power under the previous administration did not reflect current market realities.
“Our opponents said cocoa farmers could buy more cement under the previous administration, but when you compare current prices and purchasing power, that argument does not hold,” he said.
His comments come amid growing public debate over cocoa producer prices following recent adjustments announced by the Ghana Cocoa Board as part of measures to stabilise the sector.
Mr Asante said Ghana’s cocoa producer price currently stood at about GH¢2,587 per 64-kilogramme bag following the latest adjustments earlier this year.
By contrast, he said cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire currently earned about GH¢1,200 per bag under that country’s mid-crop pricing system.
A Ghana News Agency investigation similarly found that Ghana’s farmgate price remains significantly higher than Côte d’Ivoire’s, citing the same price range of about GH¢2,587 compared with roughly GH¢1,200 per bag.
Nana Asante said the higher producer price in Ghana had contributed to increasing cases of reverse cocoa smuggling from Côte d’Ivoire into Ghana.
“Before, people were smuggling cocoa from Ghana to Côte d’Ivoire. Today, the reverse is happening because Ghanaian prices are more attractive,” he stated.
Mr Asante also dismissed claims that cocoa farmers had lost purchasing power under the current administration, arguing that declining inflation and falling cement prices had improved farmers’ ability to afford building materials.
“Currently, cement prices in many parts of the constituency range between GH¢72 and GH¢82 per bag. Farmers can still buy around 30 bags of cement with proceeds from one bag of cocoa and even get some balance,” he said.
Mr Asante said government interventions in the cocoa sector extended beyond producer prices, citing ongoing fertiliser distribution, cocoa spraying exercises and plans to improve farmers’ share of the Free-On-Board cocoa price.
He further accused the opposition of attempting to create disaffection among cocoa farmers through political propaganda, claiming some participants in the engagements were brought in from outside the affected communities.
“They came with a political agenda, but after we engaged the people and explained the facts, many residents understood the true situation,” he said.
Mr Asante maintained that ongoing development projects facilitated by the Member of Parliament, Mr Felix Ofosu Kwakye, within cocoa-growing communities in the constituency demonstrated the government’s commitment to improving livelihoods.
He cited road projects, classroom blocks, CHPS compounds, boreholes and water supply interventions across the constituency.
“These projects are visible in the communities. The people can see and testify to what is happening,” he added.
Mr Asante called for discussions on cocoa pricing and farmer welfare to be guided by facts rather than partisan politics, stressing the importance of the sector to Ghana’s economy and rural livelihoods.
“This sector supports thousands of families and contributes significantly to the national economy, so we must be careful not to mislead farmers with false information,” he said.
He maintained that the ruling NDC remained committed to improving the welfare of cocoa farmers through better pricing policies, agricultural support programmes and rural development interventions.
“We are urging cocoa farmers to look at the realities on the ground and compare the figures themselves,” he added. “At the moment, Ghanaian cocoa farmers are earning more than their counterparts in Côte d’Ivoire, and that is a fact everybody must acknowledge.”
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire together produce about 65 per cent of the world’s cocoa and have in recent years collaborated under the Côte d’Ivoire
Ghana Cocoa Initiative to strengthen farmer incomes and improve influence over global cocoa pricing.
Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. John Dumelo, has attributed the sharp rise in ginger prices to a mysterious disease that has devastated ginger farms across Ghana over the past two years.
“There’s a strange ginger disease that has come and, for the last two years, it has affected most ginger farmers. That is why ginger has become so expensive,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the outbreak has significantly reduced yields, creating supply gaps that traders say have become increasingly difficult to fill.
The shortages have forced traders to source ginger from countries including China, Cote d’lvoire, Nigeria and Togo to supplement the local market. Historical trade records also indicate imports from Sri Lanka, India and the Netherlands.
Figures from the Ghana Statistical Service show that China accounted for more than 23 percent of Ghana’s total imports in the final quarter of 2025, with shipments including machinery, electronics, textiles and agricultural products.
Trade data published by the United Nations COMTRADE indicate that Ghana imported approximately US$39,740 worth of ginger, turmeric, saffron, thyme and related spice products from China in 2023.
These figures underscore Ghana’s growing dependence on imported ginger, despite the crop’s longstanding importance to local agriculture, food processing and traditional medicine.
Economists have linked the situation to broader structural weaknesses in Ghana’s agricultural sector, particularly limited investment in disease control, post-harvest management and climate resilience.
Recent data also show that Ghana’s imports from China reached record levels in late 2025, with monthly imports peaking at approximately US$437 million in November.
For consumers, however, the immediate concern is affordability, as rising prices continue to affect households, food vendors, restaurants and spice retailers who depend on ginger for cooking and traditional remedies.
Seven employees of Cocoa Processing Company PLC have been interdicted following audit findings by the Ghana Audit Service, which identified an outstanding and unaccounted amount of GH¢4,373,355.04 linked to the operations of the CPC Consumer Cooperative Shop.
The audit, which examined activities covering the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 financial years and was completed in March 2026, reportedly uncovered irregularities involving products supplied to the union-run shop located on the company’s premises in Tema.
According to excerpts of the report cited by Myjoyonline.com, the consumer shop, operated by workers through their unions, had accumulated debts to the company amounting to GH¢4,373,355.04 as of September 2025 for goods supplied by CPC.
The report also indicated that the shop operated rent-free on company premises and did not pay for utilities during the period under review. The auditors cautioned that failure to recover the receivables could adversely affect the company’s financial position.
The interdicted staff include Theodore Matey Tackey, Chairman of the Senior Staff Union; Abdul-Samed Adams, Chairman of the Junior Staff Union; George Yanney, Principal Accounts Officer; Daniel Mensah, Shop Keeper; Genevieve Pawar, Product Research and Development Manager; James Ababio, Production Manager (Confectionery); and Michael Eshun, Chief Engineer.
Information available indicates that four of the affected officers served on the Consumer Shop Management Committee, two acted as patrons, and one served as the shopkeeper responsible for day-to-day operations.
Sources within the company said management acted after receiving the audit findings and issued queries to the affected staff to explain the discrepancies identified.
The staff were reportedly given the opportunity to respond before the interdictions were imposed. Some of the officers are said to have denied wrongdoing and disputed aspects of the audit findings in their responses.
A letter of interdiction dated May 11, 2026, and signed by the Managing Director, Professor William Coffie, stated that management had reviewed the responses but found that there had been “no headway” in resolving the matter.
The letter added that further investigations were necessary to arrive at a conclusive determination, in line with the Ghana Audit Service’s recommendations for the recovery of the outstanding amount.
As part of the directives, the affected staff have been instructed to cease all withdrawals from the Consumer Shop’s bank accounts and to make themselves available for a full stock-taking exercise to be jointly conducted by the company’s Audit and Accounts Departments under the supervision of the Security Coordinator.
They are also required to submit handing-over notes and will remain on two-thirds salary pending the outcome of investigations, in line with the company’s collective agreement.
The Ghana Audit Service has recommended the immediate recovery of the outstanding receivables and urged CPC to ensure proper accounting for rent, water, and electricity going forward.
The development has triggered discussions among workers, with concerns raised about the scale of the amount involved and its implications for both management and the unions associated with the shop.
Management of Cocoa Processing Company PLC had, at the time of filing this report, not issued any public statement beyond the interdiction letters served to the affected staff.
Ghana Water Limited has defended its decision to venture into the sachet and bottled water business, dismissing claims that the move distracts the company from its core mandate of supplying potable water to Ghanaians.
Managing Director of GWL, Adam Mutawakilu, said criticisms surrounding the initiative are based on misunderstandings about the structure and operations of the company.
According to him, the sachet and bottled water business is being undertaken through a subsidiary and does not interfere with the primary responsibilities of Ghana Water Limited.
Mr. Mutawakilu explained that subsidiaries often operate independently while supporting the broader objectives of a parent institution, adding that such arrangements are common among major state-owned enterprises.
He cited Volta River Authority as an example, noting that the authority operates subsidiaries involved in power distribution and revenue collection without compromising its core mandate.
The GWL Managing Director stressed that the company remains fully committed to delivering safe and reliable water to the public, while exploring additional business opportunities through legally established subsidiaries.
He further urged critics and members of the public to seek accurate information and better understand the distinction between parent companies and their subsidiaries before making comments about GWL’s operations.
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced government plans to plant an additional 30 million trees from June this year as part of efforts to restore degraded forests and strengthen environmental sustainability measures across the country.
Delivering a major address at the 21st Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Minister said the initiative will commence with the onset of the rainy season and forms part of Ghana’s broader commitment to tackling deforestation and climate change.
According to him, the nationwide tree-planting exercise will build on ongoing reforestation interventions by the government to reverse the destruction of forest reserves, largely caused by illegal mining and other human activities.
“We are not stopping there. From June 2 this year, at the start of the rains and planting period, we will commence this year’s edition to plant an additional 30 million trees,” he stated.
Armah-Kofi Buah further indicated that the government is integrating tree planting into farming systems through the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme, which promotes climate-smart agriculture and sustainable land-use practices.
”In the last year alone, through our innovative flagship tree for life restoration initiative, we mobilised citizens and residents.
The Student Workforce Innovation Movement (SWIM) today announced the appointment of agritech innovator Evans Kyere-Mensah as Global Agritech & Climate Innovation Advisor, a strategic leadership role focused on expanding global workforce pathways in agriculture, climate resilience, and next-generation food systems
This strategic appointment strengthens global efforts to connect students, universities, and industry through Agritech innovation, sustainable food systems, and workforce development.
SWIM is an emerging global platform dedicated to connecting students, universities, industry leaders, governments, and development organizations to build workforce pathways and innovation ecosystems that prepare the next generation for the evolving global economy.
Kyere-Mensah brings extensive experience in agribusiness development, youth empowerment, agricultural value chain innovation, and climate-smart agriculture initiatives across Africa and international development networks. In his advisory role, he will provide strategic guidance on SWIM’s expanding portfolio of agritech education initiatives, university partnerships, and innovation programs designed to prepare students for emerging opportunities in agriculture and climate innovation.
The appointment comes at a critical moment for the global economy. According to global development organizations including the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), agriculture supports the livelihoods of nearly one billion people worldwide and remains one of the most important sectors for economic development, climate resilience, and food security.
Africa is expected to play a defining role in the future of global agriculture, with the continent home to the world’s youngest population and vast agricultural potential. Global development experts increasingly emphasize that equipping young people with agritech skills, innovation pathways, and entrepreneurial opportunities will be essential to unlocking sustainable economic growth and strengthening global food systems.
SWIM’s model addresses this opportunity by building a global platform that connects students with universities, industry partners, and emerging innovation ecosystems across sectors including agritech, climate technology, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship.
“Evans brings a rare combination of agricultural innovation expertise, youth development leadership, and global perspective,” said Louv Afua Amoakowaa Ford, Founder and CEO of the Student Workforce Innovation Movement (SWIM). “His insight will play a critical role as we expand SWIM’s agritech programs, build partnerships with universities and research institutions, and create new opportunities for students to participate in the future of sustainable agriculture and climate solutions.”
Ford added, “Agriculture sits at the intersection of food security, economic development, and climate resilience. By connecting students to agritech innovation ecosystems and institutional partnerships, SWIM is helping prepare the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of sustainable agriculture.”
As Global Agritech & Climate Innovation Advisor, Kyere-Mensah will contribute to several strategic initiatives, including:
• Development of agritech education and certification programs in collaboration with accredited universities • Expansion of climate-smart agriculture training and workforce development initiatives • Strategic partnerships with agricultural institutions, agribusiness companies, and international development organizations • Creation of innovation pilot programs and student-led agritech entrepreneurship initiatives
These initiatives support SWIM’s broader mission to build a global workforce ecosystem connecting students, educational institutions, governments, and industry leaders to drive innovation, job creation, and sustainable economic development.
“I am honored to join SWIM as Global Agritech & Climate Innovation Advisor,” said Evans Kyere-Mensah. “Agriculture is undergoing a profound transformation driven by technology, climate challenges, and new economic opportunities. SWIM’s vision of connecting students with innovation ecosystems and industry partnerships provides a powerful platform to empower the next generation of leaders in agriculture and climate resilience.”
Through this collaboration, SWIM and Kyere-Mensah will work to strengthen pathways for students to participate in agricultural innovation, support the development of sustainable food systems, and foster entrepreneurship that contributes to long-term economic growth across emerging markets.
As SWIM continues to expand its global advisory network and institutional partnerships, the organization is building a collaborative ecosystem where students, educators, innovators, and industry leaders work together to develop the workforce and innovation solutions needed for the future global economy.
About Evans Kyere-Mensah
Evans Kyere-Mensah is an internationally recognized award-winning agribusiness and youth development leader focused on advancing agricultural innovation, entrepreneurship, and climate-smart agriculture initiatives. His work centers on empowering young people to participate in agricultural value chains, promoting sustainable farming practices, and developing programs that strengthen economic opportunity and resilient food systems across emerging markets.
About the Student Workforce Innovation Movement (SWIM)
The Student Workforce Innovation Movement (SWIM) is a global initiative dedicated to expanding opportunities for students through workforce innovation, education partnerships, and entrepreneurship. By connecting students with universities, industry leaders, governments, and global organizations, SWIM develops programs that equip young people with the skills, networks, and paid opportunities needed to thrive in the evolving global economy. SWIM supports initiatives across sectors including agritech, artificial intelligence, climate innovation, blockchain technology, and entrepreneurship, helping to build innovation ecosystems that empower the next generation of global leaders
