Ghana has secured a landmark €154 million financing deal from the Government of Italy to bolster its agricultural transformation efforts, with a focus on food security, climate resilience, and local economic development.
The agreement, sealed by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, forms part of a broader project titled “Strengthening Agri-Food Ecosystems in Ghana.” The three-year initiative, which begins in 2025 and runs through 2027, aims to modernize Ghana’s agri-food systems through strategic public-private partnerships, cutting-edge technology, and sustainable infrastructure development.
At the heart of the initiative is the development of 10,000 hectares of irrigated farmland dedicated to the cultivation of key staple crops such as maize, rice, tomato, and soya with a focus on year-round production for the domestic market. This large-scale model farm is expected to not only boost food production but also provide employment and training opportunities for thousands of Ghanaian youth and agricultural entrepreneurs.
The Italian technical partner, CIHEAM (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies), will collaborate with Ghana’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to produce a national soil testing and crop suitability chart, enabling more efficient land use and improved yields. CIHEAM will also work with the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana to establish a national seed bank, aimed at preserving high-quality seed varieties and enhancing seed security.
Beyond agriculture, the project includes significant social infrastructure investments, including the construction of schools, toilet facilities, ICT hubs, and community centres in the beneficiary regions. This holistic approach seeks to uplift rural communities and improve the overall quality of life in the project areas, particularly around Aveyime-Battor in the Volta Region, which is set to be the project’s nucleus.
Approximately 23,000 residents of the local area are expected to benefit directly, with ripple effects likely to impact the broader Volta Region’s 1.6 million population through scalable interventions and institutional capacity building.
The project is expected to deliver:
- 10,000 hectares of sustainably managed irrigated farmland.
- Improved access to social amenities and public services.
- Strengthened institutional capacities in agriculture and governance.
- Enhanced collaboration between Ghanaian and Italian agricultural actors.
Direct beneficiaries will include farm workers, researchers, seed producers, agricultural officers, and youth entrepreneurs, while indirect beneficiaries span the wider rural population.
The funding agreement was facilitated on the sidelines of the Eighth Agrilevante Fair held in Bari, Italy from October 7–11, 2025, where Minister Opoku led Ghana’s delegation. The fair, which brings together global stakeholders in agriculture, provided a platform for Ghana to deepen ties with the Italian private sector and promote investment opportunities in its agriculture value chain.
The Minister described the deal as “a transformative partnership that will modernize our food systems, protect our environment, and enhance rural livelihoods in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The project aligns with Ghana’s broader agricultural development agenda and is a significant step toward achieving food self-sufficiency, climate adaptation, and rural prosperity.
