The Ghanaian Farmer, in partnership with the People’s Building Institute, over the weekend launched its nationwide town hall meeting series aimed at strengthening collaboration between farmers, government officials, private investors and other key players within Ghana’s agriculture value chain.
Speaking at the first session held in Accra, the Founder of The Ghanaian Farmer, Enyonam Manye, said the initiative seeks to close the communication gap between farmers and decision-makers in the agricultural sector.
According to her, while stakeholders and policymakers continue to develop interventions for the industry, many farmers on the ground often lack direct access to those at the helm of affairs to share their real-time experiences and challenges.
“The objective for organizing this series is because we are passionate about the development of the agricultural sector. However, there seems to be a gap between the farmers and the ministry or stakeholders in charge. This platform gives farmers the opportunity to interact directly with policymakers so that policies will be tailored to address their real challenges,” she explained.
The town hall series will bring together actors across the agriculture value chain, including government representatives, private sector players, investors and farmers.
The maiden event featured the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, who engaged directly with farmers on existing government interventions and support systems.
The Deputy Minister used the opportunity to guide farmers—particularly those with the required documentation and land—on how to access available government support and upcoming agricultural initiatives.
“I am here to engage them, listen to their challenges and direct them on how to benefit from subsequent projects and interventions tailored towards farmers. Government is committed to reviewing the concerns raised, providing feedback, and following up on the discussions to ensure tangible progress is made,” he said.
Following the Accra session, the town hall meetings will move to the Northern Region, identified as one of the country’s key agricultural hubs with a strong presence of young farmers. The team will subsequently visit the Volta Region, Central Region, Western Region and Eastern Region.
Manye emphasized that the initiative is not intended to be a “one-day wonder,” but rather a sustained engagement platform that ensures farmers across the country have the opportunity to voice their concerns directly to duty bearers.
“We want everybody to have their fair share. Farmers should be able to say, ‘This is what we are going through. How are you going to address it?’ Even with limited support, farmers are still pushing. It is important that policymakers also play their part so we can build a better industry,” she said.
Beyond policy dialogue, the initiative also seeks to make the agriculture sector more attractive to young people. Manye stressed that until structural challenges within the industry are addressed, youth participation will remain limited.
As the town hall series expands across the country, organizers say they will continue tracking commitments made by government representatives and other stakeholders to ensure the engagements translate into measurable improvements for farmers.
The Ghanaian Farmer maintains that stronger collaboration between policymakers and farmers will be key to driving sustainable growth and transformation within Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Story by Osman Issah Abadoo
