An 82-year-old farmer from the Kwahu Afram Plains South District in the Eastern Region, Opanyin Abraham Kwaku Adusei, has been crowned the Overall Best National Farmer for 2025, earning the top honour at this year’s Farmers’ Day celebration in Ho.
Mr Adusei, who has dedicated 44 years to farming, won national recognition for his extensive agricultural investments, which include 1,000 acres of cocoa, 293 acres of mango and 30 acres of cashew. His prize package comprised GH¢1.2 million, a brand-new tractor, a truck, power trailers, a motorized sprayer, and a commemorative plaque.
WATCH: Opanyin Abraham Kwaku Adusei, an 82 year old farmer from Sanso in the Eastern Region has been adjudged the overall national best farmer for the year 2025 #CitiNewsroom #CitiFM #FarmersDay2025 #GhanaNews pic.twitter.com/1z1inozQDm
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) December 5, 2025
He received the award from President John Dramani Mahama during the 41st National Farmers’ Day Awards Ceremony held in the Volta Regional capital. Osman Kadiri was named first runner-up, while 63-year-old Charles Gyato from the Oti Region took the second runner-up position. Both received cash prizes for their efforts.
Addressing the ceremony, President Mahama urged Ghanaians, particularly those in formal employment, to consider farming as an additional source of income and a meaningful contribution to national development.
“Agriculture isn’t only for the village folks,” he said. “You can work and still be a farmer. Teachers and civil servants can go to work and have farms, and the money from the farm can supplement their incomes.”
He explained that modern farming systems now allow professionals to combine their regular jobs with productive agricultural ventures, boosting household incomes and strengthening food security. The President added that expanding participation in agriculture would help Ghana reduce its reliance on imported food.
President Mahama also encouraged the adoption of improved technologies, irrigation and high-yield seedlings to enable part-time farmers to remain productive without being physically present on their farms every day. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to creating an enabling and profitable environment for all categories of farmers.
Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, used the event to call on corporate Ghana to support the sector. He said there was a renewed national commitment to improving agriculture and urged businesses to work with his Ministry to strengthen farmer support systems. “I want to urge corporate Ghana to partner with the Ministry,” he said.
The Minister noted that access to reliable weather information had become a critical factor in agricultural success, describing climate variability as one of the greatest risks facing farmers. “Agricultural success today depends not only on land and labour, but on timely and accurate weather information,” he said at a recent Government Accountability Series Session.
He said the Ministry had made significant progress in transforming Ghana’s agro-meteorological landscape, including the installation of twenty Automated Weather Stations across the country under the Ghana Meteorological Agency. Eleven of these stations are located in senior high schools where climate clubs have been formed to promote environmental literacy.
The Minister added that these stations provide round-the-clock data to help farmers make informed decisions on planting, harvesting and fertiliser application. To integrate data from both manual and automated stations, the Ministry is also developing a Management Information System, with the supplier shortlisted and the evaluation report submitted to the World Bank for approval.
Once completed, this MIS will serve as the digital backbone of Ghana’s agro-meteorological intelligence, offering real-time forecasts and early warning mechanisms to support national food systems.
