The Netherlands has urged Ghana to place young people at the core of its agricultural transformation. This strategic move aims to improve access to skills, finance, and markets for the youth. The call came during the 2026 International Youth Day (IYD) commemoration in Accra.
Ms. Wendy van Meel, Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana, stated that youth participation is crucial. It is essential for building sustainable value chains, creating decent jobs, and strengthening food security. She emphasized that supporting young people is central to agricultural development, not a separate activity.
This initiative aligns with Ghana's broader economic goals of diversifying its economy and reducing reliance on traditional sectors. The agricultural sector, which employs a significant portion of the population, faces challenges like an aging farmer demographic. Engaging youth can inject innovation and vitality into this vital sector. Ghana's economic stability heavily depends on robust agricultural output and job creation.
Ms. van Meel highlighted that the challenge is not a lack of ideas among young people. Instead, it is whether the ecosystem provides the necessary support to turn these ideas into sustainable businesses. The Netherlands and Ghana have strengthened cooperation in trade, investment, and market development, with agriculture remaining a key area.
Limited technical and entrepreneurial skills, fragmented interventions, weak systems, and inadequate access to finance constrain Ghana's horticulture sector. The Netherlands has supported initiatives like the ACHI programme, which trained over 1,200 young professionals and 60 lead farmers. The Horticulture Business Challenge also helps young entrepreneurs develop solutions for industry challenges.
The Embassy, with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, commissioned an Access to Finance Roadmap for Ghana's horticulture sector. This roadmap identifies financing gaps and practical interventions. For cocoa, an aging farmer population and limited youth interest pose significant future challenges. Planned media programmes and the Cocoa Innovations Hackathon at KNUST aim to promote cocoa among young people.
The Cocoa Hub project supports young rural service-centre owners to professionalize their businesses and access partnerships and finance. Ms. van Meel urged stakeholders to create an enabling environment. This environment would allow young Ghanaians to lead innovation, create jobs, and drive sustainable growth across the agricultural sector.
Mr. John Setor Dumelo, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, noted the Ministry's interventions. These include providing fertilizers, seeds, agro-inputs, and technical advice to young people entering agriculture. He urged prospective beneficiaries to demonstrate commitment by starting their ventures before seeking government support.
Mr. Dumelo stated that the Ministry promotes all-year-round farming to increase production and create reliable markets. It also collaborates with private-sector players to purchase and process surplus maize, rice, and other cereals. He encouraged young people to explore the entire agribusiness value chain, noting opportunities extend beyond crop production.
Dr. Rens Twijnstra, Head of the Economic Department of the Netherlands Embassy, emphasized that Ghana's growing youth population, increasing urbanization, and aging farming population make youth participation in agriculture a policy priority. Meaningful youth participation requires policymakers to listen to young people and understand their aspirations. Technology continues to transform employment opportunities, making this engagement critical.
Dr. Twijnstra stressed that access to finance remains a major challenge. Joint action is needed to enable young people with viable ideas to establish and grow businesses. The Netherlands sees opportunities for collaboration with Ghana in cocoa, horticulture, and other agricultural sectors. It will continue supporting initiatives that enable young people to contribute to their development.