Government is moving to transform Ghana’s agricultural landscape with the validation of a Draft National Agribusiness and Agro-Processing Policy, aimed at boosting investment and shifting the sector towards commercial farming.

The policy, unveiled at a National Agribusiness Policy Validation Workshop in Accra on Friday, 19th December, 2025, seeks to move Ghana away from subsistence farming and towards a more business-oriented and value-added agricultural system, according to Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Sampson Ahi.

“This policy is intended to provide clear direction for agribusiness development by focusing on the commercial aspects of farming, trade, and agro-processing,” Mr. Ahi stated. He stressed the importance of addressing value addition, market access, and sustainability within the sector.

The Deputy Minister urged stakeholders to expedite the finalisation process, expressing the government’s eagerness to see the policy implemented. He indicated a commitment to presenting the policy to Cabinet at its first meeting in 2026, should timelines slip beyond the end of the year.

“We need collaboration among technical experts, policymakers, and the private sector to produce a policy that is practical, implementable, and delivers tangible results,” Mr. Ahi emphasised, adding that agribusiness-led industrialisation is a key government objective.

Mr. Daniel Acquaye, Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Group, highlighted the extensive consultations that informed the policy’s development. These included national and regional dialogues held across Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Northern, Volta, and Oti regions, beginning in July 2025.

“The policy development process brought together industry players, development partners, academia, policy experts, agribusiness processors, and farmer groups,” Mr. Acquaye explained. “This ensured that grassroots voices were central to shaping the policy framework.”

Key questions guiding the validation process, according to Mr. Acquaye, include whether the policy will effectively address post-harvest losses, unlock investment, promote inclusivity, and drive transformative change.

He praised the Ministry, and specifically Sector Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare and Deputy Minister Sampson Ahi, for their leadership and dedication to completing the policy within a reasonable timeframe.

Mr. Kwame Oppong-Ntim, Director for Agribusiness at the Ministry, explained that the development of a single, comprehensive policy framework was deemed critical for guiding agribusiness and agro-processing activities nationwide.

“The essence of this validation is to scrutinise the draft policy and provide the necessary feedback to make it comprehensive and robust enough to stand the test of time,” Mr. Oppong-Ntim said.

The workshop included presentations, breakout group discussions, and plenary sessions, bringing together stakeholders from the public and private sectors, development partners, and industry associations. The validation exercise is the final step before expert review and submission to Cabinet, potentially ushering in a new era for Ghana’s agribusiness sector.

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