President John Dramani Mahama has committed to constructing cold storage facilities nationwide and enhancing access to fair markets for farmers, as part of a renewed effort to address post-harvest losses that threaten agricultural livelihoods.
Speaking at the opening of the Ghana Horticulture Expo 2025 in Accra on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the President highlighted the challenges farmers face, stating, “a single field season can erase many years of effort” due to inadequate storage and unreliable markets.
“We must ask ourselves: Can a nation prosper if the very hands that feed it remain its most neglected?” Mr Mahama told a gathering of exporters, farmers, policymakers, and international partners. “Our answer today, through this expo and our policies, is a resounding no.”
He outlined that the government’s Feed Ghana programme, running from 2025 to 2028, includes plans to deliver cold-chain systems to reduce post-harvest losses and enhance the export readiness of Ghanaian produce. The initiative forms part of the broader Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda.
Reflecting on his travels across Ghana, from Kejetia to Komenda and Techiman to Tamale, Mr Mahama noted “the silent labour of our farmers, cooperatives, our mothers hunched over tomato beds, and young people innovating with very little support.”
Despite their efforts, he added, many farmers struggle to store produce or access reliable markets. “This is not merely a technical challenge,” he said. “It is a moral imperative.”
The Feed Ghana programme will establish farmer support centres offering mechanisation services, irrigation systems, and designated agri-industrial zones. These centres will include “agribusiness youth clinics” to equip young people with skills, capital, and guidance for success in agriculture.
Mr Mahama also announced that, from July 1, the government’s 24-Hour Economy Initiative will take effect, with Tema and Takoradi ports designated as 24-hour operational zones. This measure aims to expedite the transport of fresh produce, such as pineapples, mangoes, chillies, and herbs, to international markets, minimising waste and maximising value.
He confirmed that the Ministry of Trade and Agribusiness, the Ministry of Transport, the Ghana Revenue Authority, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, and the Ghana Shippers’ Council are collaborating to implement the system.
Looking ahead, Mr Mahama projected that Ghana could earn over $10 billion in export revenue by 2030, up from $3.5 billion in non-traditional exports in 2024, with horticulture as a key driver. “To stabilise our currency, we must earn more foreign exchange, and one of the surest ways is to expand high-value agricultural exports,” he said.
He framed these initiatives within the African Continental Free Trade Area, describing it as a single market of 1.4 billion people. He advocated for a regional production model, stating, “Imagine if Liberia grew fresh ginger, Ghana processed it, and Kenya packaged it, and we exported it as one brand.”
Addressing development partners, Mr Mahama appealed, “Invest with us in infrastructure, agri-tech, and skills, not as donors, but as partners.” He also urged local financial institutions, particularly Ghana Exim Bank, to take greater risks in agriculture and provide capital to agribusiness start-ups. “Ghana Exim Bank, particularly, must be a cutter,” he added.
Mr Mahama stressed that agriculture should be seen as a viable and respected livelihood, not a fallback option.
The Ghana Horticulture Expo 2025, organised by the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE) in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, showcased the sector’s potential.
Closing his address, the President urged action: “Let us move from conferences to cold chains, from words to warehouses, and from policies to productivity. The time is now.”
