Hon. Eric Opoku, Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture and a Member of Parliament, addressed participants recently at the Ghana Investment Forum in Washington, D.C through remarks delivered remotely during the roundtable. His talking points detailed why agriculture remains central to Ghana’s growth strategy, what opportunities are now open to investors, and how the government plans to work with the private sector to strengthen agricultural value chains.
He noted that Ghana welcomes credible investment partnerships and stated that the government intends to support firms ready to participate in the sector’s expansion. Investment, he said, will deepen food production, create jobs, build reliable supply networks and generate returns for companies entering the market.
His perspective reveals years of experience in public service and agriculture. Before his ministerial appointment, he worked as a teacher and later served in a development role with Kuapa Kookoo Ltd, engaging farmer cooperatives and value-chain systems. In Parliament, he has contributed to committees responsible for agriculture, cocoa affairs and governance. His background gives him both policy grounding and familiarity with practical realities within the sector.
During his presentation , he identified priority openings beginning with livestock under the Feed Ghana programme. Ghana continues to import meat despite the capacity to expand domestic production. A dairy facility in Amrahia already produces milk, and the government seeks partners to develop processing into cheese, butter and related dairy products for domestic consumption and export.
Poultry production remains another area ready for investment. “Currently, Ghana spends over three hundred million dollars annually on chicken imports,” he said, noting the need for investment across the value chain from production and processing to packaging, storage and distribution.
Cashew and shea also featured in his remarks. Most exported cashew leaves the country in raw form, which limits retained value. Cashew apples used globally for beverages are unused in Ghana due to the absence of processing facilities. The shea industry already has a strong global market, and expanded processing capacity would allow more of that value to remain locally.
Mechanization appeared as a necessary step in scaling agricultural output. The government is establishing Farmers Service Centers to provide access to equipment, certified seed, fertilizer, extension support and basic processing facilities. With most farmers operating as smallholders, shared infrastructure will help increase yields and efficiency.
Storage capacity remains an area requiring investment. Ghana has increased production, yet post-harvest losses continue because preservation facilities and cold-chain systems have not expanded at the same pace. He called for investment in storage, warehousing and logistics.
Tomato and vegetable processing were identified as additional opportunities. Solar-powered irrigation under the Vegetable Development Project now supports year-round cultivation, and processing factories are needed to absorb supply, build market certainty and strengthen industry capacity.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy,” he said, noting that under President John Dramani Mahama, the sector is expected to support job creation, food security and stable raw material supply for industry. The Agricultural Transformation Agenda and Feed Ghana initiative guide this direction.
He ended with a direct invitation. “Ghana is open and ready for business. I invite you to come and experience Ghana, a democratic and peaceful country with abundant resources and a government ready to support private investment. Let us work together to change the story.”
