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US Tariff to impact Ghana’s Cocoa, Textiles and Agriculture

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Ghanaian exporters are bracing for the impact of a new 10% tariff on imports imposed by the United States, which is expected to affect key non-traditional exports.

The measure, announced by US President Donald Trump, has sparked concern among local producers and exporters over potential losses in market share, pricing competitiveness, and earnings from the American market.

According to information supplied by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the new tariff will directly affect Ghana’s cocoa derivatives—a key value-added export segment, garments and textiles, cashew, shea butter, and a range of agricultural products.

With Ghana being one of the world’s leading cocoa producer countries, the move could undermine efforts to expand the country’s footprint in processed cocoa exports.

Garments and textiles, another sector targeted under the tariff per information from the Ministry, could also see a significant setback.

The sector has seen modest growth under trade frameworks such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which offers duty-free access to the U.S. market. Industry stakeholders fear the new tariff may erode the cost advantage Ghanaian manufacturers enjoy, making it harder to compete with other low-cost producers globally.

The agricultural sector is not spared either. Exports of cashew, shea butter, fruits, vegetables, and yam—some of Ghana’s top-performing non-traditional exports—are now subject to the increased import duty.

Exporters in these sectors worry that the added cost burden could lead to reduced demand from U.S. buyers or force them to absorb losses to remain competitive.

Analysts say the move could have broader implications for Ghana’s export-led growth strategy and foreign exchange earnings, especially at a time when the country is working to diversify its economy away from raw material exports.

Others are also proposing for the government to leverage on the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Meanwhile, sector Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Agribusiness and Industry have been exploring diplomatic engagements with U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer to mitigate the impact after close door meetings on April 7.

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Olam Agri hosts Trade Minister to its wheat milling facility in Kpone

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Olam Agri, a leading agribusiness and food company in the country, hosted the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, at its wheat milling facility in Kpone on Friday, April 4th, 2025.

The minister’s visit, part of the ministry’s ongoing engagement with local manufacturers, provided Olam Agri with the opportunity to discuss the company’s contribution to the food industry and its alignment with the country’s industrial development goals.

During the visits, Ofosu-Adjare and her delegation met with the management and staff of Olam Agri to discuss the company’s strategic investment in Ghana, job creation, and its support for the government’s 24-hour economy policy.

The minister, in her address congratulated Olam Agri for the company’s commitment to safety and wellbeing of its employees.

“I am at Olam Agri today because they are an integral part of agri business in this country. I am impressed with what I have seen so far. The first thing I look at when I visit any factory is their work environment. How safe is it for their employees to work in safety and I think that they have passed that test,” Ofosu-Adjare said.

Adding “Any economy will grow well if there’s import substitution and if we are exporting, it means that there wouldn’t be so much burden on your currency and the cedi will be strong. I think Olam Agri is ticking all these boxes.”

Ofosu-Adjare expressed her appreciation for Olam Agri’s contributions to Ghana’s economy and reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the food industry in Ghana to achieve sufficiency.

Baibhav Biswas, Country Head of Olam Agri, underscored the company’s commitment to the economic development of Ghana through rapid expansion and job creation.

“Ghana has always presented itself as a significant investment opportunity. We have a team of over 1,500 dedicated employees in Ghana whose skills and dedication have been instrumental in our growth. We aim to grow with Ghana, not just in Ghana.”

As part of the visit, the minister and her entourage toured the company’s milling facility, where popular flour brands like First Choice, Royal Gold, Adepa and Vital are produced, to inspect the production processes. The minister and her team used the opportunity to inspect the progress of work on the construction of Olam Agri’s new state-of-the-art pasta production plant.

“This pasta plant aims to meet the growing demand for pasta products in the market. We aim to significantly reduce the reliance on imports of pasta in the country, enhancing trade and import substitution. The wheat mill has also been upgraded to process premium wheat locally, ensuring better quality control and cost efficiency,” said Baibhav.

Over the past 30 years, Olam Agri has grown to become a leading agribusiness and food company in the country, meeting the growing needs of Ghanaian consumers. Its state-of-the-art wheat milling facility was launched in 2012 boosting Ghana’s self-sufficiency in wheat flour production considerably.

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Miss Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Contest 2025: Tackling Graduate Unemployment through Sustainable Agriculture and Entrepreneurship

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In a bold move to address the pressing issue of graduate unemployment, a group of young agripreneurs has initiated the Miss Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Contest 2025.

This innovative initiative aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices, inspire innovation, and empower young female agribusiness enthusiasts to become leaders in their field.

Accordingly, the contest is designed to create awareness about the critical role of agriculture in poverty alleviation and to provide a platform for young women to showcase their expertise and leadership skills.

The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable system where supported entrepreneurial teams can receive technical and financial support to build agribusiness companies from the ground up.

“We refuse to be mere onlookers in the face of graduate unemployment,” said by Evans, one of the organizers. “We believe that by empowering young women in agribusiness, we can create a ripple effect of positive change that will benefit not only our generation but also future generations.”

The contest will bring together talented young women from across the country to compete for prizes and recognition.

The winners will receive technical and financial support to establish their own agribusiness companies, creating jobs and opportunities for others.

The organizers are calling on individuals and organizations to sponsor or partner with them to make this initiative a success.

“We believe that this is a worthy cause that deserves support,” said by the deputy head of the planning committee. By partnering with us, you will be contributing to the empowerment of young women and the growth of a sustainable agricultural sector.”

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The launch of Feed Ghana Programme rescheduled to Saturday, 12 April, 2025

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The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has announced the rescheduling of the Feed Ghana Programme, which was scheduled for April 11, to April 12, citing critical government activities that requires the attention of H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana.

The Ministry in a press release dated April 7 and signed by the Public Relations department, stipulated that the official event, rescheduled to April 12, will take place at the Methodist School Park in Techiman, Bono East Region.

The release stated, “The government emphasizes its commitment to addressing food security and enhancing agricultural productivity, and this launch is a pivotal moment in those efforts”.

“In a related development, the Minister for Food and Agriculture is pleased to announce that the University of Ghana has officially signed up to participate in the Feed Ghana Programme under its institutional commercial farming initiatives”.

The Ministry affirmed University of Ghana’s participation in the Feed Ghana Programme.

This partnership aims to leverage academic expertise and resources to bolster sustainable agricultural practices and improve food production across the nation.

The Feed Ghana Programme is expected to play a significant role in transforming the agricultural landscape of Ghana, providing support to farmers, and enhancing the country’s food systems.

“We invite all stakeholders, farmers, and the public to join us for this important event as we embark on a journey towards achieving food security in Ghana”. The Ministry added.

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Growing our own food crops in our homes is key to national food security – Eric Opoku

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The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has emphasized that every citizen of Ghana should have a garden within their homes.

This declaration was made during a press conference at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture on April 3, 2025, ahead of the official launch of the Feed Ghana flagship program, which is set to take place on April 11, 2025.

During the press briefing, Minister Opoku highlighted that to achieve food sufficiency and mitigate food crises, it is essential for every Ghanaian to actively participate in the Feed Ghana Program.

He made a comparison between this new initiative and Acheampong’s historic ‘Operation Feed Yourself’ policy, noting that while both programs share a common objective, the Feed Ghana Program takes a more modern and different approach to agricultural development.

The Minister noted the importance of reviving the old school farm project, a once widely implemented initiative in various educational institutions across the country.

He suggested that if schools began producing a substantial percentage of the food they consume, it would help reduce the burden on the government to procure large quantities of food for schools under the school feeding program.

Schools would now cultivate their own food products, ensuring that students receive fresh and nutritious meals, while supporting the national food security agenda.

Hon. Eric Opoku further emphasized that should this revival occur, it would eliminate the complaints surrounding the school feeding program, as schools would have the resources and capacity to grow the food they eat.

The Minister assured that the government would provide the necessary tools, resources, and equipment to help schools work on their farms effectively.

Additionally, the Minister urged religious institutions to actively participate in the Feed Ghana program.
He noted that religious institutions, with their broad-based membership and community reach, are well-positioned to bring people together and mobilize support for the program, thereby making the program a reality.

Eric Opoku believes that the involvement of religious institutions would significantly contribute to the program’s success, creating a unified effort towards addressing food security.

The Minister again called on all district assemblies across the country to join the campaign of the Feed Ghana program.
He stated that the active participation of local government authorities is crucial for the program’s success, as it would ensure that the initiative reaches every corner of the country and truly benefits all Ghanaians.

“Together, we will forge a new path for Ghana’s agriculture. A path that enhances food security, revitalizes our economy, and empowers our farmers. It is time to turn our rich agricultural potential into a reality.”
“I urge all Ghanaians to join hands in supporting this initiative, as we work collectively towards a prosperous and food-secure Ghana,” Eric Opoku concluded.

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Ghana courts British investment as BII eyes agribusiness and financial sector support

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In a significant move to deepen foreign investment in Ghana, the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, met with representatives from British International Investment (BII) to explore strategic opportunities, particularly in agribusiness and the financial sector. 

The meeting highlighted Ghana’s evolving investment landscape, with a focus on leveraging private capital for economic growth. “Ghana is open for business, and we welcome partners ready to grow with us,” Dr. Forson emphasized.

A major highlight of the discussion was Ghana’s upcoming Palm Industry Policy, aimed at diversifying the nation’s agricultural base beyond cocoa. 

The government plans to develop 50,000 hectares of oil palm, beginning with a $100 million investment for the first 20,000 hectares. 

“Our goal is to attract private sector investment into large-scale agribusiness that creates jobs and boosts export earnings,” said Dr. Forson.

The Finance Minister also extended an invitation to BII to support the repositioning and growth of Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG), signaling a broader push to strengthen the banking sector. 

BII, which currently holds over $200 million in investments in Ghana—particularly in the energy sector—responded positively, reaffirming their long-term commitment to the country. 

“We see Ghana as a priority market in the region,” BII representatives noted.

In a promising development, BII is considering bringing its full Board to Ghana for the first time in nearly a decade, signaling renewed interest at the highest level. 

The institution also expressed readiness to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), forestry, and other key sectors. 

Dr. Forson concluded, “We are creating the right environment for investors who are committed to sustainable growth and shared prosperity.”

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Premix fuel pricing to be standardised nationwide – Dafeamekpor

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The National Chairman of the Premix Fuel Committee, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has outlined the committee’s key priorities, emphasising the operationalisation of automated stations and ensuring uniform pricing of premix fuel across the country.

These measures aim to address challenges faced by fisherfolk and boat owners who rely on the product.

Speaking on the committee’s agenda on the Channel One Newsroom on Thursday April 3, Dafeamekpor highlighted the progress made in automating vending points, with 30 stations currently operational and plans to activate 80 more.

“Operationalisation of the vending points helps to reduce the participation of middlemen who naturally will want to purchase the fuel, hoard it and up the prices before selling to the final end users who are fisherfolk as well as our boat owners who ferry our people across the Volta Lake and in the coastal areas,” he explained.

Dafeamekpor also stressed the importance of price uniformity, noting that the committee has issued strict directives to ensure compliance.

“The other thing that will be top priority for my committee will be to ensure uniformity in pricing of the product across the country. We had our first quarter meeting today and have given strong directives and guidelines that any landing beach committee, whether inland or marine, that would sell this product to the boat owners and the fishermen above the price stipulated by the committee will be sanctioned,” he stated.

He warned that non-compliance would result in severe consequences, including the dismissal of committee members found guilty of overpricing.

Dafeamekpor also said the committee will train the landing beach committees to help educate the fisherfolks and stakeholders.

The committee’s initiatives are expected to enhance efficiency, curb exploitation by middlemen, and provide much-needed relief to those who depend on premix fuel for their livelihoods.

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Feed Ghana Initiative to ease Ghana’s $2b yearly Food Import Bill – Agric Minister

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Ghana’s food import bill is one of the major factors wreaking economic growth and development.

Although Ghana is blessed with abundant agricultural resources, Ghana has struggled with production inefficiencies due to lack of infrastructure, limited access to farm inputs, and weak integration within the agricultural value chain.

To ease the country’s import bill, strengthening the economy, and ensure food security, the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama on April 11, 2025, would launch a programme called FEED GHANA PROGRAMME in Techiman.

The PROGRAMME, according to the Minister, is designed to ease the exacerbating cost of food, thereby alleviating the food crisis in the country.

The Food and Agriculture Minister, Hon. Eric Opoku, mentioned this at a press briefing on April 3, 2025, in the Ministry’s conference room.

“The country’s heavy reliance on food imports, which totals over $2 billion per year, with poultry alone accounting for $300 million, places Ghana at risk of external market fluctuations and currency instability.”

“This dependency exacerbates food inflation, significantly affecting households and aggravating economic hardships for the most vulnerable populations,” the Minister said.

He indicated that the programme would boost agricultural production, feed Ghanaians, alleviate food crises, and create employment thereby easing the import bill.

The goal of the Feed Ghana Programme is to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector. He further said that Ghana’s agricultural sector is grappling with daunting challenges that jeopardize food security, economic stability, and overall national progress.

The smallholder farmers, who represent the backbone of the agricultural workforce, encounter formidable obstacles such as barriers to mechanization, difficulty in securing financing, and the absence of modern farming methods.

These challenges hinder their ability to scale operations and meet the increasing market demands. Additionally, substantial post-harvest losses persist due to insufficient storage and processing facilities, poor transportation networks, and inefficient market connections.

Eric Opoku affirmed that the Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), has launched the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA).

This initiative aims to drive the growth and modernization of the agricultural sector, with goals to bolster agribusiness development, secure food availability, mitigate food inflation, increase export revenues, and generate sustainable job opportunities.

He indicated that, to effectively realize this vision, MoFA is about to roll out the Feed Ghana Programme (FGP) as its flagship programme, a comprehensive program designed to implement all elements of the AETA.

The Feed Ghana Programme (FGP) is an integrated agricultural acceleration programme to boost agricultural production to feed Ghanaians, provide raw material for agro-industry, and create jobs.

These efforts are intended to ultimately ensure food security, alleviate inflationary pressures on food prices, increase export potential, and support sustained economic growth in the long term.

The Minister stated the goal of the Programme is to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector, reduce import dependency, and boost both domestic production and exports. “We aim to ensure food security and improve nutritional outcomes while creating sustainable employment and empowering our youth and women,” Eric Opoku said.

He highlighted the key initiatives of the programme, stating the advancement of SMART Agriculture, Vegetable Development Project, Support for Institutional Farming, Poultry Industry Revitalization, Livestock Development Initiative, and Feed the Industry Programme.
The Minister thereby called on all Ghanaians to rally behind the Feed Ghana Programme and make it a success.

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MoFA assures FSRP of enhanced agric trade practices

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The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has said it is prepared to tackle possible hindrances and challenges confronting national and regional agricultural trade policies, towards easing the free movement of agricultural produce and inputs across the sub region.

Sector Minister, Eric Opoku in his speech at the National Validation Workshop for the Implementation of the ECOWAS Agriculture Trade and Market Scorecard (EATM-S) Ghana, said, government is ready to address all violations and discrepancies in trade practices in order to ensure free movement of agricultural goods across the region in collaboration with other governments.

The West Africa Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), which on behalf of government, is being implemented by MoFA, has a unified objective ‘to increase preparedness against food insecurity and improve the resilience of food systems in Ghana and the sub-region.

Component 3 objective of the FSRP, is to facilitate trade across key corridors and consolidate the region’s food reserve system and ECOWAS’ initiative to use the scorecard as a critical tool to assess compliance with regional trade policies and regulations in tandem with Ghana’s food security objectives.

In relation to this objective, the Minister applauded ECOWAS, and the FSRP as well as the EATS-S Ghana team for their work, as they worked to get hands-on insights to the realities faced by manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, traders, forwarding agents, logistics, shipping and transport companies, among others.

A Senior Agricultural Economist at the World Bank, Ashwini Sebastian said the EATM-S programme is a flagship initiative which is to positively erupt and revolutionize agriculture in the sub region.

“It is not an adhoc projects but has a lot of technical expertise from academia and the country technical team into the design of the trade market scorecard and collection of data. I congratulate the technical team including MoFA, FDA, and GSA among others in getting to the validation stage, which is incredibly important” Madam Sebastien noted.

She said there are five other countries in the validation stage, which are Sierra Leone, Togo, Chad and Niger.

According to her, these reports by the various countries will be validated in the ECOWAS ministerial council in June this year, and must be followed by a concerted efforts by the various countries to disseminate the validated information with traders, inspectors and policy makers.

The FSRP Project Coordinator in Ghana, Mr Osei Owusu Agyeman, said the objective of the FSRP is to address food security in the region and to measure the progress of food production in the whole food value chain.

“After a year of implementation, it is imperative that we measure the progress made and take lessons to continue into the future. It is for this reason that this validation workshop is critical” he said.

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Ghana’s fight against illegal fishing intensified, four vessels suspended

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The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Fisheries Commission have suspended the fishing licences of four industrial trawl vessels operating within Ghana’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for repeatedly violating the Fisheries Act and Regulations, including unauthorised trans-shipment, dumping of fish, and harvesting of juvenile fish.

According to a press release issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture disclosed the vessels—Meng Xin 10 (Owners: Nassa Co. Ltd.), Florence 2 (Owners: Akrafi Fisheries), as well as Long Xiang 607 and Long Xiang 608 (Owners: Wannimas Complex Co. Ltd.), were found to have engaged in multiple illegal fishing practices, including unauthorised trans-shipment, dumping of fish, fishing in restricted zones, and harvesting of juvenile fish.

These practices severely threaten Ghana’s marine ecosystem, undermine efforts toward sustainable fisheries management and adversely affect the livelihoods of coastal fishing communities.

A press release issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture said this became necessary due to repeated violations of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625) and the Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.1. 1968).

“In accordance with Sections 76(1) and 76(2) of the Fisheries Act, 2002 (Act 625), which empower the Minister to suspend licenses of vessels involved in repeated illegalities, the affected vessels have had their licences suspended for a period of twelve (12) months, effective 1st April 2025,” it added.

Ghana’s fisheries sector has long been challenged by overfishing and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities, which continue to endanger marine biodiversity, erode the income of artisanal fishers and compromise national food security.

Practices such as illegal trans-shipment—locally known as Saiko—have particularly contributed to the depletion of key fish stocks and damaged the integrity of marine governance.

The Ministry said, “Section 132 of Act 625 criminalises illegal trans-shipment, while Regulation 33(2) of L.1. 1968 explicitly prohibits trans-shipment between industrial vessels and canoes.

These violations are not only breaches of domestic law but also contravene international obligations and hinder progress toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14, which seeks to conserve and sustainably use the ocean’s marine resources’.

It noted that “Despite ongoing stakeholder engagement, education and regulatory reforms, certain industrial fishing operators continue to act with impunity.

The Ministry reiterates its unwavering commitment to strict enforcement of fisheries laws and regulations as part of its mandate to safeguard Ghana’s marine resources.

“The Ministry takes this opportunity to caution all fishing operators, industrial, semi-industrial, and artisanal, to comply fully with the provisions of the law.

“The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the Fisheries Commission remain resolute in their mission to promote responsible and sustainable fisheries management in Ghana for the benefit of present and future generations, they assured.

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