Ghana’s Agric initiatives lack substance, just slogans – Prof. Kanton

Agricultural Research Scientist, Prof. Roger Kanton, has criticized Ghana’s agricultural strategy. He described many government initiatives as slogans without real commitment or effective implementation.

Prof. Kanton acknowledged efforts by past and current administrations. These include the Feed Ghana Programme and the Planting for Food and Jobs initiatives. However, he argued that these programs have not solved core food security issues.

He spoke during a special analysis on Channel One TV about President John Dramani Mahama’s first 120 days in office on May 7, 2025. He praised the president’s reviewable social contract as a “groundbreaking initiative” in governance. Yet, he bluntly assessed the agricultural sector's systemic failures.

“Our challenge with agriculture is purely commitment,” he stated. “Agriculture is not rocket science; we must do it right.” He emphasized that Ghana has succeeded before and questioned why things are not improving now.

“There is too much sloganeering and rhetoric,” he added. “Agriculture doesn’t thrive on noise; it requires focus and hard work.”

Prof. Kanton lamented that cocoa receives significant attention while staple crops are neglected. “If you ask Ghanaians to prioritize agriculture, cocoa doesn’t even rank high,” he said. “But who eats cocoa for food?”

He expressed frustration over Ghana's struggle with food self-sufficiency despite having qualified experts available. “We have one of the best agricultural scientists in Ghana,” he noted. “If you don’t produce what you eat, who will?”