Calls for a comprehensive overhaul of Ghana’s agricultural sector are growing stronger, as both diaspora community leaders and local farmers highlight the industry’s potential to address youth unemployment and reduce irregular migration.
Reverend Father Albert Kyei Danso, Chaplain of the Holy Family Ghanaian Catholic Community in Pordenone, Italy, says Ghana’s ability to retain its young workforce depends heavily on how well it modernises agriculture through initiatives like the government’s Presidential Initiative in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA).
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani, Rev Fr Danso stressed that the lack of storage facilities, poor road networks to farm-gates, and limited market access are major barriers pushing young Ghanaians away from farming—and in many cases, out of the country.
“If agriculture becomes more attractive and profitable, fewer young people will feel compelled to seek greener pastures abroad,” he said. He urged agricultural unions, churches, and religious bodies to work with government to ensure full implementation of the PIAA, especially in high-yield production zones such as Akomadan, Tuobodom, and Derma.
Rev Fr Danso believes that modern irrigation systems, mechanisation, and value addition could turn these communities into vibrant agribusiness hubs capable of boosting food security and driving industrial growth. He added that Ghana must deliberately change the mindset that farming is “a poor man’s work,” noting that the country’s growing rice import bill contradicts its vast agricultural potential.
Local farmers share his concerns.
Mr Boa Kawbena Nketia, a cocoa and vegetable farmer in Atronie, said post-harvest losses are crippling incomes, particularly for vegetable growers. He called for government investment in processing facilities and storage infrastructure in rural communities to protect farmers from losing their produce.
Another farmer, Mr Jascot Hawkins Alhassan, emphasised the need for improved training in climate-smart agriculture. He warned that the misapplication of fertilizers and chemicals undermines soil fertility and food safety, urging farmers to adopt organic and environmentally sustainable practices.
Both diaspora advocates and local producers agree that transforming agriculture is not just about food production—it is key to unlocking jobs, strengthening rural economies, and curbing the emigration of Ghana’s productive youth.
