The government has reiterated its commitment to tackling food inflation, unemployment, and over-reliance on imports through the Volta Economic Corridor Programme, a flagship component of the 24-hour economy strategy.

Speaking at a livestream meeting held at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, said the initiative will place agriculture at the centre of Ghana’s economic transformation.

He noted that Ghana’s annual food import bill, which has risen above $2 billion and is heading towards $3 billion, continues to undermine the cedi and worsen inflation.

“Food inflation, which stood at 5% in July 2014, jumped to 61% in January 2023.

By 2024, Ghana was listed among the ten countries with the highest food inflation globally.

Food prices and poverty move hand in hand; to fight poverty, we must tackle food inflation,” he stressed.

As part of the new strategy, the Minister announced that the government is developing two million hectares of arable land into agro-parks.

These parks will be equipped with irrigation facilities, ensuring all-year-round production to feed both households and agro-industries, sustaining 24-hour factory operations.

He further disclosed that the government will establish Agricultural Mechanisation and Farmer Service Centres across the country.

The centres will provide access to equipment, soil testing and fertiliser services, improved seed varieties, research-backed extension services, and digital agricultural tools.

“Science and agriculture are inseparable. With mechanisation, modern inputs, and data-driven extension, every farmer can improve productivity,” he added.

Mr. Opoku also highlighted the Feed Ghana Programme, which seeks to link farmers directly with industries, creating assured markets for produce while guaranteeing prompt payment.

This, he explained, would give farmers confidence to expand production, while agro-processors generate jobs for thousands of unemployed youth.

The Minister quoted a renowned agricultural scholar, saying: “If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have the chance to go right.” He emphasised that the Volta Economic Corridor, through strategic partnerships with China and other international players, would not only secure food self-sufficiency but also position Ghana as a strong agricultural exporter.

The livestream meeting was jointly hosted in Ghana by the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, WACCI, and the Ghana Investment Promotion Council, with co-hosts in China, including the International Association for Popular Cooperation (IAPC), the China-Africa Business Council, and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Promotion Council.

The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ghana also supported the event.