Eric Opoku: Leading Ghana's agricultural transformation

Mindful of his track record in previous years as a Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister and Regional Minister that saw him win a number of ministerial awards, President Mahama, on assumption of office in January 2025, reckoned Eric Opoku as most suitable for the position of Minister for Food and Agriculture and thus appointed him.

Right from his vetting and swearing into office, Opoku hit the ground running, recognising the enormity of the task ahead. He immediately set to work, guided by his principle that, "Agriculture is the cornerstone of growth."

"Food security remains a central concern for the government," Opoku declared. After indicating his intention to expand community gardens, establish food banks, and promote cooperative farming, Opoku set down some key initiatives for his agenda as Minister as follows:

1. Feed Ghana Programme

The "Feed Ghana Programme" is the government's flagship agricultural transformation programme. On the programme, Eric Opoku has this to say, "Agriculture must be a priority not only for the government but for all citizens of Ghana. This transformation could only be achieved through strategic planning, collaboration and a long-term commitment to developing the agricultural industry."

The "Feed Ghana Programme" is focused on: Increasing food production, Reducing food imports, Creating jobs, Supporting agro-industries and Enhancing food security.

2. Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA)

Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda is focused on Modernizing agriculture, Agribusiness development, Export growth, Lowering food inflation and Increasing farmer incomes.

3. Farmers’ Service Centres

Plans are laid down to establish centres nationwide to provide:

• Training

• Mechanization support

• Technical guidance, and

• Market access for farmers

4. Irrigation Expansion

Convinced by experience and data that Ghana cannot always rely on rain-fed agriculture, the Hon. Eric Opoku-led Ministry of Food and Agriculture is promoting irrigation initiatives and water management projects including: Dam rehabilitation, Borehole construction and Expansion of irrigable lands.

5. Poultry Industry Revitalization

Cognizant of the huge bill of poultry imports, he's introduced initiatives such as the "Nkokokitinkiti" Project to: Increase local poultry production, Reduce poultry imports, Support poultry farmers and Encourage household poultry farming, among others.

Opoku's initiatives are already yielding fruit. Within one year as Minister for Food and Agriculture, he has ensured that Ghana transitioned from borrowing grain from ECOWAS to feed schoolchildren to building a national food reserve of over 560,000 bags of grain. Of these, 50,000 bags have been released to repay the grain borrowed in 2018.

Again in just one year, he has:

. Increased local poultry production from 4.6% to 22%.

. Increased rice production from 43% to 56%.

. Achieved a maize production output of 4.3 million metric tonnes, exceeding Ghana’s annual consumption of 3.7 million metric tonnes, and

. Reduced food inflation from 28% to 2.2% by April 2026.

With these successes chalked up so far, Hon. Eric Opoku reiterates the ideology and activity behind his policy initiatives as Minister for Food and Agriculture in these meaningful words:

"We cannot even think about transforming Ghana if we don't put the right focus on agriculture. We cannot succeed at anything if we do not first put food on the table at an affordable cost for our people."

All these returns are poignant indicators that the agricultural sector - the backbone of Ghana's economy, growth and development - is in the safe pair of hands of Eric Opoku as Minister for Food and Agriculture.