The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has launched the Ghana Agriculture Fund for Education and Transformation (GAFET). This new fund aims to raise GHS 100 million by the end of 2028. It will strengthen agricultural education, improve skills development, and secure national food security.
GAFET begins with a seed funding of GHS 3.5 million. Mr. Eric Opoku, Minister of Food and Agriculture, appealed to businesses, development partners, and the public for support. He made this appeal at the Fund's launch in Accra on Tuesday. The Fund is a key part of the Government’s Feed Ghana Programme.
This initiative addresses a critical gap in Ghana's economic landscape. Agriculture contributes about 22% of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, only 2% of tertiary students enrol in agriculture-related programmes. Agricultural education institutions also face an estimated annual funding gap of GHS 12 million.
Mr. Opoku emphasized that achieving the Feed Ghana Programme's goals requires a skilled workforce. This workforce must be capable of modernizing the agriculture sector. He stated, “Before we can sustainably feed Ghana, we must equip Ghana.” He added, “Before we transform our farms, we must strengthen the institutions that prepare the people who transform those farms.”
GAFET will support various agricultural institutions. These include colleges, universities, technical institutions, and research centres. Investments will go into laboratories, workshops, demonstration farms, modern machinery, and digital learning tools. The Fund will also finance scholarships, research, and industry-responsive curricula. This will strengthen the practical and technical capabilities of agricultural students and professionals.
The Government remains committed to supporting agricultural education. However, the scale of funding needed demands broader national collaboration. Mr. Opoku appealed to commercial banks, pension funds, insurance companies, and agribusinesses. He also called on development partners, philanthropic organizations, alumni associations, and individuals to contribute. He stressed that “Government must lead, but society must build,” highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships.
The Government will commit part of its budgetary allocation to the Fund. It also plans to establish GAFET as a permanent statutory institution under MoFA's policy oversight. The immediate target is to increase the Fund to GHS 10 million by December 2026. This is a crucial step towards the GHS 100 million target by 2028.
Mr. Steven Odarteifio, Lead Coordinator of GAFET, expressed optimism. He believes sustained support will make the Fund a lasting national institution. It will advance agricultural transformation and equip graduates with practical skills. This will improve productivity and strengthen Ghana’s agricultural value chains.