Ghana announces $5 billion investment in agriculture and agro-processing

President John Dramani Mahama has announced a major agricultural strategy to reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported food, including plans to rehabilitate the Pwalugu Tomato Factory in the Upper East Region. As part of a ‘New Economy’ programme, the government intends to invest $10 billion over four years across seven priority sectors. Agriculture and agro-processing are slated to receive 50% of this funding, totaling $5 billion.

The initiative focuses on expanding irrigation infrastructure to enable year-round cultivation, particularly for young people. In the Bolgatanga Central constituency, Member of Parliament Isaac Adongo has launched the Grassroots Integrated Agriculture Support Programme (GIASP) to support dry-season tomato and pepper farming. This local initiative provides farmers with fertilizer, seedlings, tractor services, and irrigation assistance in collaboration with the Irrigation Company of Upper Region and the Department of Food and Agriculture.

These efforts aim to boost local production and create employment opportunities while decreasing the dependence of Ghanaian traders on imports from Burkina Faso.