MoFA, Sentuo Group sign manufacturing deal to cut fertilizer imports

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), under the leadership of Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sentuo Group Limited to advance agro-processing, value addition, and fertilizer production across Ghana.

The agreement aligns with the agricultural transformation agenda of President John Dramani Mahama and is aimed at shifting Ghana from raw commodity exports to a more industrialised agro-based economy.

At the centre of the partnership is the development of modern agro-processing facilities and a national fertilizer manufacturing system intended to improve productivity, reduce input costs, and strengthen food security.

Speaking on the deal in Accra on April 13, 2026, Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku said, “This partnership represents a decisive shift from exporting raw commodities to building a resilient agro-industrial economy that creates value, jobs, and prosperity for our people.”

The MoU outlines plans to establish industrial-scale processing plants for key crops including cashew, maize, rice, soybean, and oil palm. It will also strengthen packaging, storage, quality control, and export systems to improve Ghana’s competitiveness in international markets.

In addition, the agreement includes the establishment of a National Fertilizer Manufacturing Plant and an integrated input supply system to reduce reliance on imports and ensure a stable fertilizer supply for farmers.

Eric Opoku stated, “For too long, our farmers have been exposed to the volatility of imported inputs. This initiative secures Ghana’s fertilizer independence and guarantees consistent supply at competitive prices.”

The initiative is expected to support government programmes such as the Feed Ghana Programme and the 24-Hour Economy policy.

The partnership comes as Ghana scales up one of its largest fertilizer support interventions. The 2026 national budget includes:

• 272,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer for nationwide distribution

• Over 164,000 metric tonnes of targeted fertilizer for crop production

• GH¢2.7 billion allocated for cocoa fertilizer support

• Coverage for more than 661,000 farmers

The government said the Sentuo project will complement these efforts by boosting local fertilizer production, reducing foreign exchange pressure, and protecting the country from global supply shocks.

Eric Opoku added, “This is how we anchor our agricultural policy in sustainability by aligning public investment with private sector capacity to deliver long-term national impact.”

Sentuo Group Limited, an international industrial and infrastructure development company, will finance, design, construct, and operate the facilities under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The company is expected to introduce modern technology, international technical partnerships, and compliance systems while also focusing on job creation, skills development, and local participation.

Eric Opoku said, “This project will create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, empower our youth with technical skills, and position Ghana as a leader in agro-industrial production across the region.”

He further concluded, “Under the leadership of President Mahama, we are building a modern agricultural economy, one that is productive, industrialised, export-driven, and capable of sustaining Ghana’s economic transformation for generations.”

MoFA will provide policy coordination, regulatory support, and oversight to ensure smooth implementation of the project within national development plans.

The agreement is expected to serve as a major step in boosting investor confidence and accelerating Ghana’s agricultural industrialisation drive under the Mahama administration.

Once implemented, the partnership is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, increase value-added exports, stabilise fertilizer prices, improve farmer access to inputs, create jobs across the agricultural value chain, and strengthen national food security.