The government has deployed the first batch of 506 Feed Ghana Brigadiers and District Feed Ghana Coordinators, describing them as a new frontline workforce that will drive agricultural transformation, strengthen food security, and support job creation across the country.
Speaking at the passing-out ceremony of the officers at the Ghana Police Training School in Tesano, Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku said the graduates represent “a new national force for agricultural transformation” tasked with translating the government’s Feed Ghana Programme from policy into measurable results on farms and in communities across Ghana.
Addressing concerns over why the officers were trained at the Ghana Police Training School instead of agricultural colleges, the Minister explained that the recruits were already qualified professionals holding first degrees and master’s degrees in agriculture and related disciplines.
According to him, the training focused on instilling discipline, resilience, teamwork, accountability and leadership, qualities he described as essential for delivering effective agricultural services.
“Discipline is not only for the parade ground. Discipline is for the farm. Discipline is for public service. Discipline is for national development,” Mr. Opoku stated.
He said the officers also received operational orientation from technical directorates within the Ministry to equip them with a clear understanding of the Feed Ghana Programme and their responsibilities in the field.
The Minister announced that, beyond supporting the implementation of the national programme, the Brigadiers will provide agricultural advisory and technical services to private agribusinesses, households, educational institutions, public institutions and faith-based organisations. As Master Gardeners, they will also promote household food production, improve nutrition and encourage environmental stewardship.
Mr. Opoku disclosed that private sector demand for the initiative had already emerged, revealing that one agribusiness company had requested 20 Brigadiers, while another had requested two, even before the officers officially completed training. He said the Ministry would continue recruiting and training additional agricultural graduates as the programme expands.
He clarified that the newly deployed coordinators are not establishing a parallel agricultural system but will work under the administrative leadership of District Directors of Agriculture and collaborate closely with Agricultural Extension Officers and other technical staff.
“Do not go to the districts as bosses. Go as servants of the people,” he charged, urging them to strengthen existing structures through cooperation rather than duplication.
Mr. Opoku said the success of the Feed Ghana Programme would ultimately be measured by practical outcomes, including the number of farmers supported, acreage cultivated, food produced, youth employed, women empowered and agricultural value chains strengthened.
Describing agriculture as the foundation of every serious economy, he said President John Dramani Mahama’s vision extends beyond food production to economic transformation, industrialisation, national security and employment creation.
He urged the officers to serve with discipline, humility, integrity and patriotism as they begin implementing one of the government’s flagship agricultural programmes.
