Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang at the event
Ghana’s Vice President, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, joined global leaders and innovators at the closing session of the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, where she delivered a compelling keynote address on the future of agriculture and food security.
Reflecting on the enduring legacy of Dr. Norman Borlaug, she emphasised that his conviction that no child should go to bed hungry must continue to serve as a moral compass for nations pursuing inclusive and sustainable development.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang underscored the centrality of agriculture to Ghana’s national development agenda, noting that nearly two out of every five Ghanaians depend on the sector for their livelihoods. However, she highlighted persistent challenges that undermine food sovereignty, pointing out that Ghana currently spends over USD 2 billion annually on food imports much of which could be produced locally.
“This must change,” she affirmed.
Outlining the government’s strategic response, she cited President John Dramani Mahama’s bold vision for agricultural transformation, anchored in the Feed Ghana Programme — a coordinated, market-driven initiative covering 22 commodity value chains, including grains, legumes, vegetables, starchy staples, tree crops, and livestock. The programme aims to address structural weaknesses in irrigation, storage, processing, digital integration, cooperative development, and market access.
Complementing this effort is the Grow24 Programme, a key component of the 24-Hour Economy agenda. Grow24 focuses on modernising agricultural value chains, strengthening agro-manufacturing, and positioning Ghanaian agribusinesses for export competitiveness.
The Vice President also highlighted a new five-year Agricultural Risk Management Strategy, targeting key commodities such as poultry, tomato, and maize in selected regions.
Addressing inclusivity, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering women and youth in agriculture. “Women make up more than half of Ghana’s agricultural workforce, yet continue to face barriers to land, credit, technology, and training,” she said.
To address these inequities, she announced the establishment of a Women’s Development Bank, alongside heavy investments in youth-led agritech, mechanisation services, and digital market platforms.
She further emphasised Ghana’s strategic shift from exporting raw materials to producing high value finished goods, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) headquartered in Accra.
“We are ready to build regional value chains, expand agro-exports, and empower youth and women across borders,” she declared, extending an open invitation to investors, governments, universities, development banks, and foundations to partner with Ghana.
Following her keynote, the Vice President participated in an insightful fireside chat with Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (2015–2025), exploring Ghana’s approach to agricultural modernisation, resilience, and sustainable growth.
The event culminated in the presentation of the 2025 World Food Prize to Dr. Marieangela Hungria, a distinguished Brazilian agronomist and microbiologist celebrated for her pioneering research on biological nitrogen fixation, a breakthrough enhancing global food production and environmental sustainability.
