The Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Limited, Dr. (h.c.) Daniel Fahene Acquaye, has welcomed the government’s significant increase in budgetary allocation to the agriculture and agribusiness sectors, from 0.5% of the national budget in 2025 to 5% in 2026, describing it as a bold step toward strengthening the sector.
Speaking at the Regional Agribusiness Dialogue on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the Global Dream Hotel in Tamale, Northern Region, Dr. Acquaye noted that the new allocation, amounting to approximately GH¢13 billion, is ten times higher than the previous year’s.
However, he cautioned that without addressing Ghana’s persistent post-harvest losses, the increased investment may not yield the desired transformation. Ghana’s post-harvest losses are estimated at US$1.9 billion annually.
“It is important to mention that in the 2026 budget, we have seen a significant allocation for agriculture and agribusiness. The 2025 budget was so small that it represented about 0.5% of the national budget. In 2026, it has increased to about 5%, which is very substantial—about ten times what was allocated in 2025. This is commendable, and we appreciate the government for that,” he said.
“Now that we have increased the budget to about GH¢13 billion, covering agriculture, agribusiness, and fisheries, it represents only about 50% of our post-harvest losses. This shows how huge the losses are. Until we address them, any investment in agriculture will only add to the existing wastage.”
Recurring Droughts and Gluts
Dr. Acquaye also raised concerns over Ghana’s recurring cycle of food shortages during droughts and gluts in periods of good rainfall, describing it as a long-standing systemic failure that requires urgent correction. “When there is drought, we have a challenge; when it rains, we have a challenge. This problem existed before I was born, and today it remains the same. It cannot continue,” he stressed.
He highlighted the disconnect between production and processing, noting, “When farmers produce, they don’t have agro-processors. When processors establish factories, they don’t have raw materials. There is a clear disconnect.”
Dr. Acquaye warned that unless Ghana strengthens critical infrastructure such as roads, irrigation, storage facilities, and market access, gluts and shortages will persist, leaving farmers unable to benefit from their hard work.
Northern Ghana’s Potential
The agribusiness expert called for urgent policy reforms and deeper investment in agricultural infrastructure in Northern Ghana, arguing that the region, which accounts for over 40% of the country’s land surface, has the potential to feed the nation but suffers from severe under-investment.
He noted that Northern Ghana produces key crops such as rice, maize, soya, yam, groundnut, sorghum, and cotton, yet the region has very few agro-processing facilities to add value to these products.
Highlighting the scale of post-harvest losses, Dr. Acquaye revealed that the losses of yam alone equal about 30% of the entire 2026 agriculture budget, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure investments. Poor road networks, inadequate irrigation, and seasonal flooding continue to exacerbate vulnerabilities for farmers.
“This region should be the breadbasket of the entire nation,” he emphasized. He urged the government and private sector to prioritise processing plants, storage systems, and post-harvest infrastructure to unlock the region’s full potential.
Deputy Minister Highlights Government Interventions
Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to repositioning the agribusiness sector as a key pillar for Ghana’s industrial transformation and the envisioned 24-hour economy.
In a speech delivered on his behalf by Mr. George Owusu Ansah Amoah, Director of the Research, Statistics and Information Management Directorate (RSIM) at the Ministry, Mr. Ahi noted that Ghana stands at a defining moment as global agribusiness opportunities expand. He referenced projections indicating that the global agribusiness market—currently valued between US$3.4 trillion and US$3.5 trillion—is expected to reach US$4.4 trillion to US$5.8 trillion by 2033.
“We have a unique opportunity to tap into this expanding market through innovation, value addition, contract farming, and sustainable agribusiness practices,” he stated.
The Deputy Minister explained that the realignment of the Ministry—from the Ministry of Trade and Industry to the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry—signals a deliberate shift toward strengthening linkages between agriculture and industry.
To support agro-industrialisation, he announced a two-phased strategy to improve access to agricultural machinery. “In the short term, government will waive taxes on agro-processing machinery to lower costs and incentivize investment,” he revealed.
The Agribusiness Dialogue forms part of the Ministry’s efforts, with support from partners including Agri-Impact Limited, to seek inputs for the formulation of a national agribusiness policy for Ghana.
