Advancing Ghana’s agriculture through WSO’s sustainable certification

Agriculture remains the backbone of Ghana’s economy, employing more than a third of the workforce and contributing approximately 21.4% to the national GDP, according to recent statistics from the World Bank.

From cocoa the country’s most celebrated cash crop to staples such as maize, cassava and rice, the sector not only drives food security but also sustains millions of rural households.

With mounting concerns over climate change, the increasing effects of illegal mining, land degradation, and the need for responsible resource use, Ghana’s agricultural future hinges on embracing sustainability adopting practices that protect the environment, enhance productivity, and ensure long-term resilience.

The globally recognised, world-leading sustainability organisation, the World Sustainability Organization (WSO), has a presence in over 70 countries, with more than 1,000 companies certified and certifications represented on over 3,000 products globally.

Through its Friend of the Earth programme, WSO has introduced the Sustainable Agriculture Certification a powerful tool for producers and exporters to demonstrate compliance with international standards while protecting ecosystems and improving farmer livelihoods.

The introduction of the Sustainable Agriculture Certification follows WSO and Fort Group’s successful rollouts of Sustainable Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Fashion, Mining and Chocolate certifications in Ghana.

By extending into agriculture, the initiative targets one of the country’s most strategic sectors food exports and natural products.

By embracing eco-friendly practices, investing in green innovations, and meeting the rising global demand for responsibly sourced products, Ghana can strengthen its agricultural resilience while positioning itself as a leader in ethical trade.

The Sustainable Agriculture Certification ensures that farms and processors meet world-class requirements on biodiversity conservation, soil and water management practices that support long-term productivity, safe agrochemical use and waste reduction, among others.

Unlike crop-specific schemes, WSO’s certification offers a flexible standard that applies to multiple commodities.

This makes it particularly attractive for Ghana, where smallholders often cultivate several crops such as cashew and mango alongside cocoa.

Adopting the certification will bring multiple benefits to Ghanaian agricultural producers and exporters, including enhanced market access in the EU and beyond; premium positioning for Ghanaian brands in global markets; improved climate resilience and farmer incomes and increased visibility through WSO’s global sustainability network.

As Ghana diversifies its export portfolio beyond raw cocoa, the adoption of the Sustainable Agriculture Certification would help position the country as a hub for green, ethical and traceable agricultural products on the global stage.

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