President John Dramani Mahama has stressed the need for Ghana to build strong local capacity in the design, manufacturing and scaling of agricultural technologies, describing it as both an economic and strategic priority.

Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the Ghana Agrotech Fair, the President commended the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, the Ghana Export Import Bank and their partners for providing a national platform to showcase innovations in agricultural technology and agribusiness.

He noted that supporting local agri-tech manufacturers would help strengthen Ghana’s industrial base, create skilled employment opportunities, reduce dependence on imports and position the country as a producer and exporter of agricultural technology within Africa.

President Mahama emphasised that modern agriculture extends beyond cultivation to include productivity, value addition, industrialisation and exports, with technology and innovation playing a central role.

He cautioned that Ghana cannot achieve meaningful transformation in the agricultural sector while relying heavily on imported machinery and systems, urging greater investment in homegrown solutions to drive sustainable growth