Civil society group, Arise Ghana has urged government to put stronger institutional arrangements in place to ensure that current agricultural reforms continue to deliver results beyond the tenure of the administration that introduced them.

The civil society group said several interventions being implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture under Minister Eric Opoku have the potential to improve food production, farmer incomes and Ghana’s food security.

It made the assessment at a press conference on Thursday, August 20, 2026, held under the theme, “Agriculture Policy Reforms: What Ghanaians Must Know.”

Arise Ghana said its review of the sector showed progress in a number of areas, including agricultural inputs, extension services, irrigation, mechanisation, poultry production, seed development and post-harvest management.

It described the Feed Ghana Programme as one of the key interventions, particularly because it covers several stages of agricultural production rather than concentrating solely on the provision of farm inputs.

The group said the programme brings together crop and livestock production, poultry, irrigation, mechanisation, extension services, agro-processing and market access.

It reported that 40,000 bags of inorganic fertiliser and nearly 8,000 cartons of organic fertiliser had been provided to farmers, alongside agricultural drones.

Arise Ghana also said 506 Feed Ghana Brigadiers had been trained and commissioned to provide technical assistance and support implementation at the district level.

It further cited the distribution of 500,000 Kuroiler birds to smallholder farmers, including women, single mothers and persons with disabilities, as part of efforts to strengthen household livelihoods and poultry production.

The group said changes to the country’s seed and fertiliser systems were another significant area of the government’s agricultural policy.

It noted investments in seed-testing equipment, soil laboratories and nationwide soil sampling, as well as the rehabilitation of the national soil laboratory in Kumasi.

According to Arise Ghana, the measures are intended to improve fertiliser application by matching blends to the requirements of specific soils.

The group also pointed to the Ejapa rice seed initiative, which is expected to produce more than 10,000 tonnes of seed by 2027.

It said the initiative could help Ghana reduce its dependence on imported rice and support domestic food security.

Irrigation development was also identified as an area where government interventions could help reduce the sector’s dependence on rainfall.

Arise Ghana said 10 new dams were being constructed, eight others rehabilitated and 250 solar-powered boreholes installed.

It also cited rehabilitation work at irrigation schemes including Vea, Weta, Tanoso, Ashaiman, Kpong and Aveyime.

Two irrigation schemes at Afram Plains-Kunadu are expected to provide water for 900 hectares of farmland, according to the group.

On mechanisation, Arise Ghana said more than 4,000 pieces of machinery, including tractors and combine harvesters, had been procured.

It said government was also working towards establishing 50 Farmer Service Centres during the initial phase of the programme, with the first centre initiated at Takoratwene.

Plans to construct 1,000 kilometres of farm roads were also highlighted as part of efforts to improve transportation and market access for farmers.

The group said government’s post-harvest and market interventions could also help address losses that occur between production and consumption.

It cited measures to strengthen the National Food Buffer Stock Company, including purchasing surplus food during periods of high production and releasing stocks when supplies become limited.

Arise Ghana also said 300 maize and soybean threshers had been locally produced by 2,231 young artisans.

It noted that government was also focusing on domestic production of tomatoes, onions and pepper, while the rice import quota policy requires importers to partner with local producers to obtain permits.

The group further highlighted the Nkoko Nketenkete backyard poultry programme, the “Farm to Table” framework and the YƐREDUA Vegetable Development Project.

Arise Ghana said these initiatives could increase domestic food production while creating opportunities for women, young people and smallholder farmers.

The organisation commended Eric Opoku for giving agricultural transformation a prominent place on the national agenda.

It nevertheless said the sustainability of the reforms would depend on whether they are supported by institutions and systems capable of maintaining them when political administrations change.

Arise Ghana said Ghana’s agricultural sector had seen numerous programmes under successive governments, but continuity, evaluation and long-term financing had remained challenges.

It therefore called for successful reforms to be backed by legislation where necessary, reliable financing and measurable performance indicators.

The group wants the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to publish annual targets for major programmes and establish a public monitoring mechanism through which citizens can follow their implementation.

It also recommended a stronger farmer database to improve targeting and reduce ghost beneficiaries.

Other recommendations include expanding irrigation infrastructure, improving maintenance systems, widening access to affordable agricultural finance, strengthening extension services and providing farmers with more reliable markets.

Arise Ghana also called for increased investment in storage and agro-processing to reduce post-harvest losses and urged government to increase the participation of women and young people in agricultural programmes.

The group said agricultural policy should be treated as a long-term national priority rather than an initiative tied to individual political administrations.

It urged Ghanaians to take greater interest in agricultural policies and demand accountability while encouraging stakeholders to offer constructive criticism without unnecessarily politicising interventions.

Arise Ghana said Ghana has the resources and capacity to develop a strong food production and agro-processing sector, but this would require consistency, investment, accountability and a long-term national vision.