PIAA signs MOU with GETFUND, GES, and NSA on School Farms Presidential Initiative

The Directorate for Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), Ghana Education Service (GES), and the National Service Authority (NSA) to implement the School Farms Presidential Initiative in Senior High Schools.

The signing, which took place on June 19, 2025, marks a major milestone in Ghana’s drive to revolutionise agricultural education and ensure food security through youth participation.

Speaking in an interview following the signing ceremony, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, Director of PIAA at the Office of the President, described the MoU as a game-changer for food production and distribution among schools in Ghana.

“This agreement is the foundation for one of the most transformative initiatives undertaken by the H.E. President John Dramani Mahama-led administration. We are bringing practical food crop and livestock production directly into our senior high schools, creating a future generation of agri-entrepreneurs with the skills and mindset to lead Ghana’s agricultural transformation,” Dr Otokunor said.

Dr Otokunor described the initiative as an offshoot of the Feed Ghana Programme, launched by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and a national turning point for practical agricultural learning and youth empowerment.

“We are not just launching another programme; we are reimagining agriculture as a viable, tech-driven, and profitable future for our youth,” he stated.

“The School Farms Presidential Initiative is structured to train students in practical, hands-on farming and agribusiness, from their classrooms to the fields.”

He added, “Under the initiative, over 700 schools across the country will be onboarded, engaging more than 80,000 students and cultivating over 6,000 acres of farmland. Students will be involved in hands-on farming activities focused on staple crops such as maize, cowpea, and vegetables, while also receiving training in sustainable farming and agribusiness management.”

He reiterated that the implementation of the programme will be guided by a detailed roadmap developed by a Joint Implementation Committee, comprising representatives from the respective partners. A Project Implementation Unit (PIU) is being formed with support from collaborating ministries, including the Ministry of Education (MoE), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs. The committee will coordinate implementation activities, monitor progress, and ensure the realisation of measurable outcomes.

GA