Three financial institutions – the Development Bank Ghana (DBG), Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and Stanbic Bank Ghana – have made varied donations to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in support of this year’s Farmers’ Day celebration, scheduled to take place in Ho in the Volta Region on December 5.
The donations were made at separate presentation ceremonies held last Friday at the Ministry in Accra.
DBG, established four years ago, made its first-ever contribution to the event, while ADB and Stanbic Bank have supported the celebrations over the years.
DBG’s donation, designated for the best university research institution in agriculture, was a tractor fitted with implements to support agricultural research.
Stanbic Bank also donated a tractor intended to be awarded to the successful and hard-working farmer as an incentive for improved performance.
ADB, on the other hand, provided cash prizes for individual farmers. This includes GHS 1.2 million to the Overall Best Farmer and GHS 15,000 to the Best Agricultural Secondary School. The bank also provided additional support to the Overall Best Fisherman under the Ministry of Fisheries.
DBG’s mission
The Deputy CEO of Development Bank Ghana (DBG), John Kwame Mensah Zigah, emphasised that agriculture and food security are central to DBG’s mission.
He mentioned that the bank is committed to supporting the entire agricultural value chain, with a special focus on research that develops new crop varieties.
DBG’s donation of a tractor to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is therefore aimed at strengthening research institutions in agriculture and is intended to be awarded to the best-performing research university or institution.
"At Development Bank we see agriculture as a focal point in our existence in terms of food security, and we all know that food is the engine of life for all of us as Ghanaians. For us at DBG, that is one of our core anchors in terms of ensuring food security and making sure that food is available for us as a nation," he said.
"We are supporting the Ministry in that regard to also support the research institutions to come up with food varieties," he added.
ADB's expanded package
The Deputy Managing Director of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB), Professor Ferdinand Makafui Ahiakpor, announced an expanded package of donations ahead of the national farmers’ awards.
Beyond these contributions, ADB will sponsor the pre-awards stakeholder engagement session – the quarter before the main programme.
Professor Ahiakpor emphasised the bank’s long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to sustaining and increasing its support for the agricultural sector.
"The board and management of ADB want to first extend our congratulations for the great work you are doing at the ministry. It's well remarkable, you notice it, and as it has been in history, we institute this award."
"We have been the partners, the main sponsors and at this point, we want to also continue sponsoring again because it's something that will not end. And then this year, we realised that we need to up the game. Though our position was not good, we decided to move from the 1 million support for the overall best farmer to the 1.2 million support for the farmer," he said.
Stanbic's commitment
At the event, Mawuko Afadzinu, Executive Head of Marketing of Stanbic Bank Ghana, reaffirmed the bank’s long-standing commitment to supporting Ghana’s agricultural sector.
He highlighted that for 18 consecutive years, including during COVID-19, the bank has contributed to national agricultural initiatives, notably through providing high-quality tractors and other forms of support to farmers.
He emphasised that agriculture is central to Ghana’s economic growth and national well-being, and praised the Ministry of Agriculture for its leadership and dynamism.
"We are here to continue a tradition which is very important to our brand and our purpose, that is Ghana being our home. We're driving growth and you know when we are hungry, we can't be happy."
"And more than our personal fulfilment is the fact that food drives the economy of this country and it's the biggest basket and opportunity for growth and that's why Stanbic Bank consistently for the last 18 years without break, even in the COVID period, have ensured that we are part of this very important national activity and our contribution plays out in various ways," Mr Afadzinu said.
Minister's pledge
The Honourable Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opku, expressed deep appreciation to the banks for their consistent support to farmers and the Ministry.
He expressed gratitude to ADB for its longstanding partnership and financial support toward achieving national food security.
He assured that the resources provided will be delivered directly to farmers to boost food production and strengthen national food security.
He highlighted that this year’s Farmers’ Day will ensure full transparency, with every award presented directly on the field.
The Minister further assured that no donation will be misplaced and that the final cheques will be deposited straight into the winners’ accounts.
"We only want to assure you that whatever you are giving us today is not meant for us. We will serve as a conduit and make sure it gets to the farmers. The ultimate is to increase food production to attain food security for the benefit of all of us," he said.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s mandate to ensure national food security and guarantee that every Ghanaian has access to adequate and nutritious food.
He emphasised that this responsibility cannot be achieved by the Ministry alone and highlighted the importance of partnerships, noting that meaningful national development is impossible without food security.