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The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, expressed confidence in the positive impact of the second phase of the Programme for Planting for Food and Jobs. This phase focuses on an input credit system that encompasses all participants in the agricultural value chain. The President believes that this comprehensive approach will continue to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector and have far-reaching effects on production, processing, distribution, marketing, and the overall economy.
President Akufo-Addo addressed international development partners during a meeting regarding the second phase of the Program for Planting for Food and Jobs on October 26, 2023, in Accra. He emphasized that this approach would stimulate economic activities within the agricultural sector, create employment opportunities, support industrialization, boost exports, increase incomes, promote rural development, and contribute to overall economic growth.
The second phase of the Program for Planting for Food and Jobs was launched on August 28, 2023, as a five-year strategic initiative to address challenges in the agricultural sector, aggravated by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The President stated that this initiative is expected to enhance food security and establish a strong comparative advantage in the production of various cash and food crops, as well as poultry products. It is also intended to leverage the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
The President expressed concern about the misalignment of priorities between certain international development agencies’ policies and Ghana’s national policies and strategies. He stressed the importance of ensuring that foreign government projects designed to support Ghana’s agriculture align with the government’s priorities, as any deviation could lead to misdirected investments.
President Akufo-Addo called for regular dialogues to identify and rectify factors causing this disconnect, promoting collaboration, and discussing challenges and successes in the execution of agricultural development plans. He also emphasized the importance of resource mobilization, funding mechanisms, collaboration with research institutions, farmer organizations, and private sector entities, as well as monitoring and evaluation for evidence-based decision-making.
The President expressed confidence that the second phase of the Program would draw in investments and support from international partners, ultimately leading to food security in Ghana.
Source: Omanghana.com
