Peasant agriculture cannot solve Ghana’s food problems – Ato Forson

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson says Ghana must move beyond peasant agriculture and modernise food production to reduce its dependence on imports.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday after presenting the 2027 Budget to Parliament, he argued that the country’s land, water resources and youthful population provided a strong foundation for commercial agriculture.

“The current agriculture, peasant agriculture, cannot solve the problems.”

Dr Forson said Ghana spends about US$3.5 billion annually importing foodstuffs. He described that level of dependence as unsustainable.

“We spend about 3.5 billion United States dollars yearly to bring foodstuffs into our country. It cannot continue.”

He responded to questions about proposed investment in commercial agriculture and agribusiness, including oil palm, sugar, rice, poultry, maize, soybean, aquaculture, vegetables, and cocoa.

The minister questioned why Ghana kept importing products it could produce locally. He cited chicken imports of about US$200 million a year and called for stronger links between crop production and poultry farming.

“Why can't we use our land to grow soybean and maize to feed the poultry industry?”

He also expressed concern about fish imports and Burkina Faso's role in supplying onions and tomatoes. He identified Pwalugu as a potential part of the solution to vegetable supply challenges.

“All we need to do is modernise agriculture.”

Beyond food production, Dr Forson outlined plans to increase local cocoa processing rather than continue exporting beans for value addition elsewhere.

He said the government wanted companies buying Ghanaian cocoa to establish processing operations in the country.

“We are not saying don't come and buy our cocoa beans, but if you are a company out there, come and buy our cocoa beans, but add value here in Ghana.”

Asked about targets to process 50% of cocoa locally by 2028 and 100% by 2030, he said the new Cocoa Board Act already made the 50% requirement mandatory.

He added that a legislative instrument would set the timeline for moving to full local processing by 2030.

On processing capacity, Dr Forson said discussions were underway on a proposed contract involving 500,000 metric tonnes of cocoa for local value addition.

He identified Dangote as the interested investor but said the terms were still being examined.

“Dangote has reached out to use Ghana as a hub to process cocoa locally.”