Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Eric Opoku, has launched a GHS 100 million agricultural fund. This fund, named the Ghana Agriculture Fund for Education and Transformation (GAFET), will support the government's agricultural transformation agenda. Its primary goal is to build a sustainable national endowment for skills development, innovation, mechanisation, and agricultural enterprise.
The GAFET will also invest in institutions that train Ghana's agricultural engineers, researchers, agribusiness leaders, and entrepreneurs. This focus on human capital is crucial for modernising the sector. The fund aims to address the need for skilled professionals to design, operate, and maintain advanced agricultural systems.
This initiative forms a vital human capital pillar of the government's broader 'Feed Ghana Programme'. The 'Feed Ghana Programme' seeks to increase food production, modernise farming practices, and expand irrigation and mechanisation. It also aims to promote agro-processing, reduce dependence on food imports, boost exports, and create sustainable jobs, especially for young people and women.
Mr. Opoku emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between public and private sectors to transform agricultural education. He stated that agricultural transformation depends on investments in machinery, irrigation, and financing, but also on the quality of trained personnel. He highlighted that equipping Ghana with skilled individuals is essential before the country can sustainably feed itself.
Agricultural colleges, universities, technical institutions, and research centres have historically produced professionals for the sector. However, many of these institutions require renewed investment in laboratories, workshops, demonstration farms, and modern machinery. They also need updated digital learning tools and industry-responsive curricula.
Mr. Opoku underscored that agricultural education must combine strong theoretical knowledge with practical competence. This approach will enable graduates to effectively respond to challenges faced by farmers and agribusinesses. The scale of this challenge requires partnerships beyond just the government.
GAFET will provide a national platform for the private sector, development partners, financial institutions, and philanthropic organisations to contribute. Alumni associations and individuals can also contribute to agricultural education and capacity development through this fund. This broad partnership approach is designed to ensure long-term sustainability and impact.
An initial GHS 3.5 million has already been mobilised by five agribusinesses. These companies include Grow For Me, Agrisol, Thermaline, New Age AgriSolutions, and Trade Line Consort. The immediate target is to grow the fund to GHS 10 million by December 2026. The ultimate goal is to reach GHS 100 million by December 2028.
The fund will be managed under a transparent governance framework. This framework includes a governing board, an independent fund administrator, a licensed fund manager, a custodian bank, and an independent external auditor. This structure aims to ensure accountability and efficient use of resources.
Mr. Steven Nhyira Odarteifio, Co-Coordinator of GAFET, noted that Ghana cannot transform its agriculture without first transforming its educational institutions. He pointed out that many agricultural graduates lack sufficient hands-on experience with modern machinery, irrigation systems, and farm management. GAFET will support 21 beneficiary institutions through investments in various areas. These include laboratories, workshops, demonstration farms, modern machinery, research, and digital learning tools. The fund will also provide scholarships, internships, and industrial attachments to students.