Ahafo Ano South MP criticises government's low investment in agriculture

Member of Parliament (MP) for Ahafo Ano South, Elvis Osei-Mensah Dapaah, has raised concerns over the government’s insufficient investment in the agricultural sector, stressing its pivotal role in sustaining the country’s economy.

He made these remarks on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, while reflecting on the recent State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on Thursday, February 27, 2025, in which President John Dramani Mahama highlighted the government’s investments in agriculture.

“I closely followed the President’s SONA, and upon reviewing the budget allocations, I realised the agricultural sector received only $1.5 billion, which I consider a peanut — a relatively small investment,” he stated.

In his view, the agricultural sector’s contribution to the national economy is invaluable, and the funds allocated to it are far too meagre. He further pointed out that the communication sector received more funding, despite agriculture’s greater importance.

“In Ghana, agriculture is the backbone of our economy, so that amount is too small. Even the communication sector received more money than agriculture,” he said.

He further accused the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) of undermining national welfare through poor prioritisation.

“I feel my colleagues in the NDC don’t want Ghanaians to be happy. Today, if we, as a country, rely heavily on agriculture and yet invest so little in it, then in the near future, we may be forced to import food,” he cautioned.

He argued that a vibrant agricultural sector would position Ghana as a net food exporter, create employment opportunities for the youth, and ensure a more comfortable standard of living for citizens.

He also lamented the growing number of unemployed agricultural graduates from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), despite their technical expertise.

“There are many graduates from KNUST’s Faculty of Agriculture with expertise in rice, maize, and cassava farming, yet they are sitting at home jobless. Why don’t we invest in agriculture so the youth can also find employment?” he queried.

He called on the government to make substantial investments in the sector, describing agriculture as a lucrative source of national revenue.

“I studied agriculture at KNUST, so I understand what it entails. If the government prioritises agriculture, the unemployment rate will decline,” he concluded.

AM/KA

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