Ghana, Hungary deepen agricultural ties with new cooperation agreement

Ghana and Hungary have announced an agricultural cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening Ghana’s agricultural sector and improving support for smallholder farmers.

The agreement was announced at the first Ghana-Hungary Business and Trade Forum held in Budapest on September 25, 2026.

The forum was organised by the Embassy of Ghana in Hungary in collaboration with the Governance Africa Foundation and brought together government officials, private sector representatives, investors and development partners.

Ghana’s Ambassador to Hungary, Dr Kwame Ampofo, said the forum was intended to strengthen economic relations between the two countries and create opportunities for trade, investment and joint ventures.

He said the partnership would focus on areas including value addition, technology transfer, skills development and market expansion.

“It is a call to action. It is not just a slogan, but a vision, and a pathway for Ghana and Hungary to deepen cooperation in ways that create lasting impact,” Ambassador Ampofo said.

Focus on agriculture and skills development

The agricultural cooperation agreement involves collaboration between the Governance Africa Foundation and Hungary’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Economy.

The partnership is expected to support agricultural training and strengthen cooperatives to help farmers gain access to knowledge, technology and improved farming practices.

Gabriella Grüner, EU and International Affairs Officer at the Ministry’s FAO Affairs and Development Department, said Hungary had more than two decades of experience working with Ghana on development projects.

She said experience from previous programmes showed that locally delivered training was more effective because farmers were able to apply the knowledge directly to their work.

Márton Balogh, representing the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture and Food Economy, said a new phase of the agricultural training programme would begin in Ghana in October 2026.

He said the programme would train 100 agricultural advisory professionals within the year.

The programme is also expected to contribute to increasing the incomes of smallholder farmers, reducing migration, preserving agricultural biodiversity, promoting knowledge transfer and helping farmers respond to climate change.

Founder of the Governance Africa Foundation, George Odamtten, said knowledge transfer and international partnerships were important to improving agricultural productivity and creating opportunities for farmers.

Opportunities for trade and investment

Ambassador Ampofo said Ghana’s position in West Africa and its economic and political environment presented opportunities for Hungarian businesses seeking to expand into the region.

He also pointed to Ghana’s agricultural raw materials, including cocoa, cashew, shea, fruits and grains, as areas with potential for increased cooperation.

Odamtten said combining Ghana’s raw materials with Hungarian technology and expertise could help both countries expand into European and other international markets.

He said the partnership could support value addition and create opportunities for businesses in both countries.

Ghana to host investment seminar in 2027

Minister and Head of Chancery at the Ghanaian Embassy in Hungary, Kwasi Asante, said the mission would host an investment seminar from March 2 to 3, 2027, as part of activities marking Ghana’s 70th independence anniversary.

He said the event would bring together companies from Ghana and Hungary, including representatives of the Hungarian Export Promotion Authority (HEPA).

According to him, the seminar would provide an opportunity to deepen commercial relations, attract investment and explore areas of mutual economic interest.

The Ghana-Hungary Business and Trade Forum was organised under the theme, “Building Partnerships for Sustainable Growth and Shared Prosperity.”