Players within the agricultural sector and export value chain have a lot to cheer about following President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of Hon. Sylvester Adinam Mensah as Acting Chief Executive of the country’s leading policy and development bank, the Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM).
News of the appointment of the consummate finance professional and former senior banker, prominent for his expertise in public sector banking, fund management, strategic financial management, and governance with a proven record of accomplishment of delivering innovative financial solutions was received with excitement across various sectors.
The Ghana Export-Import Bank Act 2016 (Act 911) was promulgated to establish the Ghana Export-Import Bank with a mandate to facilitate international trade, improve export competitiveness, enhance foreign exchange earnings and improve the balance of trade. In addition, the Bank is to play a pivotal role in Ghana’s quest for a feasible and sustainable export-led economy.
Under Mensah’s leadership, the Bank’s core strategic direction is expected to focus on prioritizing agribusiness and introducing carefully designed initiatives tobridge the export gap to foster Ghana’s greater participation in global export value chains, from small and medium-sized enterprises to larger corporations.
Over the years, agriculture has remained the major driver of Ghana’s economy and the primary way the majority of Ghanaians earn their living. As an agrarian economy, it has become important to focus on agribusiness in order to enhance the development of the value chain and build the ecosystem to our advantage.
Agribusiness, as we are aware, examines the structure and organization of the agricultural food sector as well as the entire value chain extending from farm inputs, through on-farm businesses, to processing, transportation, credit and marketing.
In addition, Agribusiness plays a crucial role in the world economy, responsible for producing, packaging, preserving and distributing food and other agricultural products to consumers and industries worldwide. For this reason, we cannot afford to neglect agribusiness as a priority for the country.
Low and medium-income countries always battle with currency depreciation due to an unfavourable balance of trade (BoT) which also serves as a major indicator of economic growth potential and an important part of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Reducing our trade deficit will require a bold step to increase exports to earn more foreign currency from the goods and services exported.
In realizing this, Ghanaian businesses are to be aided to leverage innovation and technology to improve their processes to be able to compete favourably in the global marketplace.
This will ultimately lead to the building of local capacity, enormously contribute to Ghana’s industrialisation, and export drive agenda. Without a doubt, these will certainly culminate in job creation and the introduction of special purpose initiatives targeting the youth and women to benefit from jobs to be created.
Businessman Alhaji Seidu Agongo has revealed that he spent two days in the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over allegations of selling adulterated fertilizers to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
On January 28, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, formally withdrew all charges against Dr. Stephen Opuni, former CEO of COCOBOD, and Seidu Agongo.
State Attorney Enam Loh Mensah informed the court that the Attorney-General had directed the withdrawal of all charges, leading to the filing of a formal notice.
Dr. Opuni and Seidu Agongo had faced 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretenses, willfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer.
The trial, which commenced in 2018, revolved around allegations of procuring substandard fertilizers for COCOBOD, reportedly resulting in financial losses to the state.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu, Seidu Agongo, recalled, “I was arrested, detained and slept I think about two days at the EOCO cells. I was told they were looking for me so I went there to report myself. They said I had sold adulterated fertilizers to COCOBOD.”
He accused EOCO of detaining him in an attempt to intimidate him into making a confession.
“They wanted to detain me and put fear and panic in me. That was my first time [sleeping in a cell].”
A team of researchers from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have unveiled a groundbreaking method of producing high-performance batteries using taro (Kooko or Brobe) peels.
This cost-effective and environmentally friendly innovation, published in the journal Energy Storage, has the potential to revolutionise the energy storage industry by turning food waste into a renewable energy solution.
Dr Daniel Nframah Ampong, the lead researcher and a member of the KNUST Centre for Engineering Materials Research (KCEMR), explained the approach taken by the research team.
“We used an environmentally friendly approach to synthesise activated carbon from taro peels. These waste materials contain some properties or functional groups that we believed at the time would enhance the performance of energy storage devices,” he stated.
The study focused on converting taro peels into activated carbon, which was then tested for its effectiveness in energy storage applications.
According to Dr Ampong, the current market relies on activated carbons that are synthetically produced using toxic and hazardous methods. The KNUST team, however, took inspiration from traditional charcoal-making techniques used in Ghanaian villages.
“We decided to come down to our level and use the process of producing charcoal in our villages. We mimicked that process using crucibles, and at the end, we were able to synthesise the activated carbon, which had similar properties to the commercially available activated carbons,” Dr Ampong revealed.
The biomass-derived material demonstrated exceptional energy storage capabilities, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional battery components.
The innovation aligns with Ghana’s renewable energy agenda, as the country seeks to increase its renewable energy mix.
“The purpose of the research is to get some storage systems to store renewable energies when they are in excess so that when we need them, we would be able to utilise them effectively,” Dr Ampong explained.
“We want to produce something that is eco-friendly with a cheap synthesis process, and the starting materials are locally available.”
Professor Kwadwo Mensah-Darkwa, Dr Ampong’s supervisor and Research Lead of the Energy Materials Research Group, highlighted ongoing efforts to harness biowaste for energy storage solutions.
“There has been a lot of development trying to use these biowaste materials mostly to drive our energy storage agenda. The plan is we want to get an eco-friendly way of creating materials for energy storage devices. This is what we are looking forward to at our lab,” he said.
Prof Mensah-Darkwa also noted that recent investments in laboratory equipment through the KNUST Engineering Education Programme (KEEP) have enhanced their research capabilities.
“We have equipment now where we can test these assembled cells. So now the output of our research is going to be quite effective, and we would be able to look at all other opportunities we have,” he stated.
However, he acknowledged that further material characterisation techniques are required to confirm the properties needed for specific applications, which the department currently lacks.
“We know that there is opportunity in this area, and if we build on our expertise, then we can now look at how to scale it up and make an impact. We are a little bit far from building our own batteries, but we are close to understanding how we can do these things locally,” he explained.
This pioneering research could pave the way for Ghana to develop its own battery technology using locally sourced and sustainable materials.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has received a $5 million contribution (over GH¢80 million) from the Republic of Korea to provide lifesaving food and nutrition assistance to 187,000 people affected by drought in northern Ghana.
This intervention comes at a critical time when soaring food prices and widespread crop and livestock losses due to prolonged dry spells have worsened food insecurity in the region. The hardest-hit areas include Bono, Bono East, Oti, Northern, North-East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West, with an estimated one million people (approximately 3% of Ghana’s total population) impacted.
“The prolonged dry spell in northern Ghana has created an urgent need for support among affected families. With soaring inflation and currency depreciation, these families are facing a crisis within a crisis,” said Aurore Rusiga, WFP’s Country Director and Representative in Ghana.
“WFP appreciates the unwavering support from the Republic of Korea. Together with the Government of Ghana, we are committed to ensuring that the most affected families have access to diverse and sufficient food until the next harvest season. This contribution is a lifeline for many and a testament to the power of international solidarity,” she added.
The Republic of Korea’s funding will enable WFP to provide emergency cash transfers to the 187,000 Ghanaians who are struggling to afford food due to high prices, low seasonal production, and early depletion of household food stocks.
“This contribution is part of the pledge made by the Government of the Republic of Korea, as a founding member of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, to support the Republic of Ghana. Our contribution shows that the Republic of Korea is a steadfast friend of Ghana, standing side by side even in times of great hardship,” said Park Kyong Sig, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Ghana.
In Ghana, WFP continues to support economic self-reliance by providing technical assistance and building strategic partnerships that enhance nutrition, food systems, social protection, and social cohesion.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, dedicated to saving lives during emergencies and using food assistance as a tool to promote peace, stability, and long-term prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and climate change.
The Black Volta River, which flows near the town of Yapei, has been severely polluted due to illegal mining activities in the Banda Nkwanta areas.
The river, which is a vital source of water for the local community, has been contaminated, posing a significant threat to the health and livelihoods of those who depend on it.
The pollution is a result of Galamsey activities in the area, causing widespread pollution and destruction of the water body.
The Black Volta River is a significant waterway that flows into the White Volta River to form the Volta River.
The pollution of the Black Volta River has serious implications for the environment and human health, as it can contaminate the water supply and affect the livelihoods of people who depend on the river for fishing and other economic activities.
The pollution has also raised concerns among the local community, who are calling on the authorities to take immediate action to stop the illegal mining activities.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resource has indicated steps to fight illegal mining activities to ensure that those responsible for the pollution are held accountable.
Ghanaian households are feeling the strain of rising food prices, despite a slight ease in the overall inflation rate for January.
The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) reveals a troubling trend, with several staple food items experiencing price hikes exceeding 50%, further tightening household budgets.
At the forefront of this surge is ginger, which has seen an eye-popping 114.4% price increase, making it the most inflated food item in the country.
The sharp rise reflects the broader pressures on food prices, with beans, a vital protein source for many, also experiencing a significant 84.6% increase year-on-year.
Other essential food items are similarly feeling the heat. Dried pepper prices have surged by 82.1%, while okro and onions have each jumped by 79.6%.
Yam, another staple food crop, has risen by 72.9%, and cocoyam leaves are not far behind, increasing by 59.3%.
Even citrus fruits, such as lime, have been caught in the inflationary wave, marking a 58.4% rise, closing out the top ten most inflated food items.
Other notable price hikes include watermelon and dog meat, which recorded year-on-year increases of 59.7%, ranking 7th and 8th, respectively.
These sharp increases in food prices highlight significant national and household-level economic challenges.
The GSS report provides a sobering look into the ongoing pressures on Ghana’s cost of living, with food inflation leading the charge.
As the government and consumers alike hope for price stabilisation in the coming months, many households will continue to grapple with the impact of inflation.
While cautious optimism remains for early February, the lingering inflationary pressures may present challenges for the months ahead.
The newly appointed Chief Executive of Ghana COCOBOD Dr. Randy Abbey has stated that farmers will be prioritized in the financial issues of the board.
He explained that there is an urgent need to redirect the finances of COCOBOD to compensate farmers.
Engaging stakeholders for the first time after his appointment, Dr. Abbey told farmers they will be the focus of COCOBOD. He assured that farmers will be constantly consulted to seek their input in decision making.
“We need to listen to them, they are the practitioners. They [farmers] have been involved in this for decades and in every decision that we take, we need to have their input. They ought to be central in our decision making”.
He emphasized the importance of the cocoa farmer in the entire value chain. According to Dr. Abbey, the farmer must be well catered for to encourage the production of quality cocoa for the nation.
“We also need to prioritize their welfare, so that is what I mean by putting the cocoa farmers at the center of what we do here”, he said.
Dr. Abbey underscored the need to continue some long term works started by COCOBOD to boost production.
“There are some things that have been started, for example is the rehabilitation of some of the farms. We need to intensify that. We first of all need to understand what is going on and to intensify it as well”, he said.
Giving some suggestions, he pointed out the need to start focusing on large scale farming to sustain cocoa production.
“We need to work together with the farmers to see how we can increase that. There is also the issue of prioritizing large scale farming, if you look at Côte d’ Ivoire and some of the neighboring countries”, he said.
Concerns from cocoa farmers
The spokesperson of the Ghana Cocoa Coffee Sheanut Farmers Association (COCOSHE), Imoro Issifu Alhassan outlined some areas that must be quickly looked at to restore growth in the cocoa sector.
“You have come at a time the COCOSHE are facing huge challenges that must be tackled immediately. The challenges include but not limited to declining production, low incomes persistent threats from pests and diseases”.
He pointed out that another major threat that has significantly affected cocoa production is galamsey.
“These issues and others remain critical priorities for us and we look forward to working closely with your office to tackle them effectively”, he said.
He cautioned that cocoa production is at its lowest ebb, unprecedented in the annals of cocoa production in Ghana.
“From a production level of over one million tons to below 500,000 tonnes as we speak is sickening. For production to sink this low calls for urgent need to tackle these challenges head on”
He added that farmers welfare have also suffered a setback
Maiden Canada-Ghana Agribusiness Summit comes off in Saskatchewan in July 2025
Maiden Canada-Ghana Agribusiness Summit comes off in Saskatchewan in July 2025
Global Entrepreneurship Network-Ghana (GEN-Ghana) and Voazok Agritours Canada have announced inaugural Canada-Ghana Agribusiness Summit, scheduled for July 16-17, 2025, at Innovation Place, Saskatchewan, Canada.
This groundbreaking summit aims to create a dynamic platform for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development within the agribusiness sectors of Canada and Ghana. It will bring together leaders, policymakers, investors, researchers, and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, foster partnerships, and explore cutting-edge opportunities that drive economic transformation and food security.
The Summit will feature a combination of keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, networking sessions, and business matchmaking activities. The summit will be organized over a period of 2 days, with each day focusing on specific themes or topics relevant to the agribusiness sector.
The summit seeks to facilitate collaboration, share knowledge and best practices, promote investment opportunities, support capacity building, foster networking and partnerships, and drive innovation and sustainability.
The summit’s themes include:
• Agricultural Value Chain Development: Enhancing efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness across agribusiness value chains, from farm to fork.
• Agro-processing and Value Addition: Promoting value addition, processing, and packaging of agricultural products to create higher value and expand market opportunities.
• Agri-tech and Innovation: Harnessing technology and innovation to drive efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in agricultural production, processing, and distribution.
• Market Access and Trade Facilitation: Exploring opportunities for export-oriented agriculture, market access, trade facilitation, and international partnerships to enhance global competitiveness.
• Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Resilience: Addressing challenges related to climate change, environmental sustainability, and natural resource management in agricultural production systems.
“At GEN-Ghana, we are deeply committed to fostering entrepreneurial growth and innovation across all sectors, especially in agribusiness, which holds tremendous potential for economic transformation in Ghana and beyond. Co-hosting the Canada-Ghana Agribusiness Summit 2025 aligns perfectly with our mission to connect entrepreneurs, investors, and stakeholders to unlock opportunities, share knowledge, and drive sustainable development.
“This summit is a platform to amplify the voices of agribusiness leaders, showcase Ghana’s potential on the global stage, and strengthen the ties between our two nations. We look forward to co-creating an event that will inspire action and deliver lasting impact for businesses and communities alike,” Stephen Gyasi-Kwaw, Country Founder/MD, Global Entrepreneurship Network-Ghana, said.
“Voazok Agritours is honored to co-host the Canada-Ghana Agribusiness Summit 2025, a groundbreaking event dedicated to fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within the agribusiness sector. As a champion for sustainable agricultural practices and cross-cultural exchange, we see this summit as a unique opportunity to bridge expertise from Canada and Ghana, empowering stakeholders to address global food security challenges while unlocking economic potential. Together, we aim to inspire a new era of agribusiness excellence that will benefit communities, businesses, and the environment for generations to come,” Derrick Owusu-Kodua, CEO, Voazok Agritours Incorporated, Canada, added.
“As the Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Canada-Ghana Agribusiness Summit 2025, I am deeply honored to help guide this transformative initiative. This summit represents a powerful platform for fostering innovation, building partnerships, and driving sustainable growth across the agribusiness sector in both Canada and Ghana.
By uniting industry leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors, we aim to unlock new opportunities and create a future where agribusiness serves as a cornerstone for economic development and food security. Together, we are shaping a legacy of collaboration and resilience in global agribusiness,” Dr Marry Bur, Professor Emerita ,College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan and Former Principal Investigator for the Technical Education for Modernizing Agriculture in Ghana (TEDMAG, noted.
For more info on registration, advestion, exhibition, sponsorship and partnership visit www.caghagribizsummit.com
Dr. Ransford Anertey Abbey has been appointed as the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) by President John Dramani Mahama.
The appointment was formally announced in a letter dated January 21, 2025, in accordance with Article 195(1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 12(2) of the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 1984 (P.N.D.C.L. 81).
The letter, signed by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, states: “Dr. Abbey’s appointment is effective immediately and will remain in place pending the constitutionally required advice of the COCOBOD Board, in consultation with the Public Services Commission.”
President Mahama congratulated Dr. Abbey on his new role and wished him success, expressing confidence in his ability to steer the institution effectively.
Dr. Abbey’s appointment is anticipated to bring renewed energy and strategic direction to COCOBOD, a vital organization in Ghana’s cocoa industry.
As a cornerstone of the nation’s agricultural and economic development, COCOBOD’s operations are critical to sustaining the livelihoods of millions of farmers and contributing to national revenue.
One unavoidable point worth dissecting is the fact that the millennial Ghanaian consumer appears to have a preference for more mature chicken with harder bones, thicker meat and a certain indigenous taste — the types that are usually raised at home, as casual domestic hobbies, with no commercial intent.
It is all good, but truth be told, those are not raised in organised, commercial quantities and are not under strict regulatory supervision.
Since that certainly does make them more expensive to produce and sell. Hence, the tendency to wait for the ‘spent layers’ which, after 75 weeks of playing their ‘born-to-breed’ roles, get released onto the market.
Here’s the catch though: purchasing mature birds at heavier weights and yet at affordable prices is totally attainable if the market base is wide and guaranteed since that would motivate local producers to opt for leaner profit margins spread over large stocks. The other option would be to wait for ‘spent layers’.
FSRP-MOFA poultry intensification scheme
In a determined move to claw into this entire phenomenon, save the nation about $300m, as well as create valuable and sustainable value chain jobs, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has targeted broiler poultry production of 420,000 tonnes (which constitutes 111 per cent national self-sufficiency) by 2028.
Under this annually staggered arrangement, Ghana was expected to attain 12.7 per cent (42,610 MT) by the end of 2024, through the facilitation of the supply of improved breed of broilers; facilitation of the expansion of processing facilities (through Matching Grants); provision of adequate animal husbandry/ health services and training; and facilitation of access to structured market arrangements.
In line with this, the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) under MoFA, through World Bank funding, has rolled out the Poultry Intensification Scheme (PIS), which is being run in phases.
The PIS beneficiaries are receiving input credit in the form of day-old chicks, feed supplies, as well as supplies of vaccines.
They are also being trained in the best modern practices and climate-smart technologies within the poultry industry.
They will further be able to access matching grants to procure equipment to support post-production processing and cold storage.
The scheme targets the production of approximately two million broiler birds yearly, under a $12.5m World Bank facility.
Under the scheme, commercial anchor farmers and their out-growers nationwide are getting this support to produce, process and market two million birds annually over the next three years.
FSRP strides so far
To that end, since July 2024, FSRP has facilitated input credit to 22 anchor farmers in six regions (Ashanti, Bono, Oti, Greater Accra, Central and Eastern) by way of 360,500 day-old chicks, 911, 000 doses of vaccines (HBI, Lasota, Umboro 1 & 2) and 4.5kg of feed per bird – totalling 1,179,000 kg of feed; in all, amounting to approximately GH¢13.5m so far.
As a result, within four months (as of November 2024), the Poultry Intensification Scheme has led to the production of 400,000 birds. The anchor farmers have further drafted beneficiary out-grower farmers into the game.
FSRP broilers are raised under the prying eyes of an entire community of state regulatory bodies and experts.
Monitoring teams made up of officials of the Animal Production Directorate (APD-MOFA), the Veterinary Services Dept (VSD-MOFA), as well as FSRP’s team of technical specialists, together with regulatory officials inspect the poultry farms and processing facilities to ascertain their adherence to laid down industrial standards such as feed quality, vaccination timeliness, bio-security protocols, stipulated weights, microbiology checks and the general health care of the birds.
Unfortunately, these cannot be guaranteed when it comes to imported poultry. Some are alleged to be produced without regulatory oversight.
This means necessities such as timely vaccinations, approved feed types, proven hygienic raising methods, storage of the processed birds within strictly stipulated temperatures, etc, cannot be verified or guaranteed.
They may come in with all the required import documentation, but that may just be paperwork, which may well be filled with nothing but a ‘copy and paste’ cocktail of concocted stories.
These questions will, therefore, forever flutter: What quality control measures are observed in the production chains of imported poultry?
Under what conditions are they raised, cared for, slaughtered and dressed?
How certain are we that they were disease-free before slaughter?
Under what conditions are they frozen after processing?
How long are they kept before getting transported overseas and how long do they float on the seas before they arrive in our markets? How long were they kept in those cold stores there and here? Under what regulatory temperatures?
After slaughtering, processing, chilling, blast freezing, cold transportation, delivery at the retail shop, etc (all under regulatory requirements), GH chicken can hit dining tables within 24 hours! Can we guarantee the same for imported chicken?
Flocking together
Some have fumed, understandably, “Why doesn’t the government just place a gripping ban on imported chicken?
That should give the local industry some leverage and space to grow!”
But as the FSRP Project Coordinator warns: first, that move would be gravely counter-productive, since we don’t have the capacity yet to meet the hefty local demand.
It would trigger blistering inflation on chicken, among other rippling effects.
Secondly, FSRP is all about promoting open trade in food and agricultural produce within the West African sub-region.
Indeed, consumers from neighbouring countries cross over to purchase some chicken from Ghana.
The FSRP approach, therefore, is to work to gradually reduce imports, by using home advantage to take over the local poultry market and even export.
Moreover, players in the poultry importation business are invited to take advantage of the Poultry Intensification Scheme and switch over to local production and exportation.
That should be a hassle-free easier sell, besides serving the greater national good.
The ‘Cluck’ is ticking!
Remember, a bite into imported chicken is a bite out of the Ghanaian economy, with a clear and present effect on jobs, exchange rates, nationwide public services, and believe it or not, salaries – not to mention the highly possible loss of nutritional value and imminent health risks to our populace (especially children and students), may be exposed to.
As the MoFA emphasised at the FSRP stand during the 2024 National Farmers Day Exhibition, the slightly higher cost of homegrown poultry is not as cut-throat as alleged, given the health and nutritious sway they have over imported ones.
Sustained patronage
Moreover, with FSRP support and sustained consumer patronage, the prices will level up in no time.
This calls for all players in the industry (including anchor farmers, outgrowers, input suppliers, marketers, etc) to pitch in to hold down $300m for themselves and prevent all that cash from flying off our shores.
Consumer groups and bodies, including workers’ unions, school matrons, headmasters, church groups, employers, restaurants and alumni groups can make this happen simply by purposefully purchasing FSRP-MOFA-endorsed poultry to lock down all the $300m in Ghana to stimulate the wider economy.
The writer is the Communications & Knowledge Management Specialist of the World Bank’s West Africa Food System Resilience Project (FSRP) under GoG/MoFA.
Maiden Canada-Ghana Agribusiness Summit comes off in Saskatchewan in July 2025
