The Volta Region is being primed to become a leading agricultural powerhouse in sub-Saharan Africa, as the Volta Africa American Chamber (VAAC) and the Volta Development Forum hosted the second U.S. Farmers Delegation Visit Conference to boost innovation and sustainability in farming.
Held in partnership with local and international stakeholders, the conference signaled a significant step toward transforming the region’s agricultural landscape through technology, youth engagement, and strategic investment.
Daniel Kodjo Agboka-Dzegede, Executive Director of VAAC, set the tone for the event, calling for a bold rethinking of agriculture in the face of Africa’s surging population growth.
“Agriculture must shift from subsistence to science. It’s not just about hoes and cutlasses anymore — it’s drones, GPS tractors, AI, and smart irrigation. This is the only way we can feed the future,” he said.
The event, which gathered local farmers, agribusiness experts, development practitioners, and youth leaders, emphasized agriculture as a lucrative and transformational economic pathway — especially for Ghana’s job-hungry youth.
Each year, Ghana produces an estimated 110,000 graduates, many of whom face limited job opportunities. The conference challenged this narrative by positioning agribusiness not just as a solution to unemployment, but as an industry ripe with opportunity across farming, processing, packaging, logistics, marketing, and exports.
“The future of work is in food,” Agboka-Dzegede asserted. “Agriculture must be seen as cool, profitable, and strategic. With the 24-Hour Economy initiative, the time is now.”
Representing the initiative, Charles Nornoo of the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat introduced “Grow 24,” a flagship agricultural sub-program that clusters farmers and connects them to low-interest financing.
“This isn’t handouts — it’s strategic empowerment,” Nornoo said. “We’re building a support ecosystem through cooperatives and anchor farmers to scale food production and reduce Ghana’s import burden.”
International voices also backed the region’s potential. Jay Reiners, co-founder of Sustainable Agriculture Solutions for Africa, praised Ghana’s bold policy shift and highlighted Volta’s natural advantage.
“This region has the climate, the soil, the people, and now — the political will. From poultry to pineapples, Volta can lead the continent in agricultural excellence,” Reiners said.
Dr. Chris Sokpor of Deon and Noed International (DNI), a tax and advisory firm, addressed a key barrier to agribusiness success — lack of documentation.
“You can’t attract serious investment without serious planning. No matter how good your farm is, if your books aren’t in order, funding won’t follow,” he warned.
To bridge this gap, DNI pledged affordable consultancy support to agribusinesses in Volta and beyond, helping entrepreneurs prepare business plans and feasibility studies to unlock capital.
The conference ended with a renewed collective call to action: for traditional authorities to protect farmlands, for youth to seize opportunities, for farmers to embrace innovation, and for partners — local and foreign — to build a resilient future for Africa’s agriculture.
“Let us not just feed our families,” Agboka-Dzegede concluded, “Let us feed the continent.”
