President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans for the government to make about US$2 billion available annually to support sectors with strong potential to create jobs under the government’s 2027 economic programme.
He said the initiative would be driven largely by the private sector, with the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy expected to focus on nine critical sectors of the economy.
President Mahama disclosed this when a delegation of the Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, led by its President, Nana Barima Twereku Ampem III, paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency in Accra.
He said the Finance Minister would provide details of the programme when he presents the 2027 Budget to Parliament in November.
“The Finance Minister will announce the details, but we expect the support and buy-in of our traditional authorities,” President Mahama said.
“We intend to make about two billion dollars available every year in sectors that can create jobs. The programme will be driven mainly by the private sector because the government is not in business; it is the private sector that will manage it.”
The President said agriculture would be among the key areas of focus, with the government seeking to expand domestic production and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imports.
He identified oil palm production as a priority, arguing that Ghana had sufficient land to produce vegetable cooking oil locally.
“There is no reason Ghana should continue importing vegetable cooking oil when we have the land to produce oil palm, ourselves,” he said.
President Mahama urged traditional authorities to support the programme by making land available for oil palm plantations but stressed that chiefs should also participate directly in the ventures.
“When the programme begins, we will engage you because you are the custodians of the land to release land for the implementation of the project,” he said.
“You must take part in oil palm plantations because they will provide income for your communities and contribute to national development.”
He also highlighted poultry production as another area being targeted under the government’s agricultural interventions.
President Mahama said Ghana spent significant amounts on importing chicken despite having the capacity to produce more locally.
He said the poultry programme would support small, medium and large-scale farmers, enabling them to sell their birds, reinvest their proceeds, purchase more chicks and expand their operations.
The President said the planned completion of the Bechem Broiler Processing Factory would be important to the programme by providing poultry farmers with a ready market for their birds.
He said construction of the facility was progressing steadily and expressed his intention to invite the traditional authorities to its commissioning when completed.
The Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs delegation was at the Presidency to congratulate President Mahama on his victory in the 2024 general election and express appreciation for development projects initiated in the region.
Nana Barima Twereku Ampem III commended the President for the development initiatives and particularly welcomed the Accra-Kumasi Expressway Project.
He said completion of the project would facilitate the movement of people, goods and services between the Ahafo Region and Accra.
He also commended Newmont for its contribution to the development of the Ahafo Region through its corporate social responsibility programmes.
