We want to make agriculture attractive to young people – Eric Opoku

Incoming Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced plans to revitalize Ghana’s agricultural sector and make it more appealing, particularly to young people.

Speaking during his vetting on January 20, he outlined a strategy to acquire land from landowners, prepare it for farming, and hand it over to interested farmers to boost food production and achieve food sufficiency.

The initiative aims to address Ghana's food security challenges and position agriculture as a viable career path.

To support this, the ministry will prioritize hiring more agricultural extension officers to improve the extension services-to-farmer ratio, which is currently inadequate.

Agriculture remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s economy, contributing 20-25% of GDP. However, the sector struggles to attract youth, who often favor white-collar jobs over farming opportunities.