Otokunor Pushes Agricultural Self-Reliance at Horticulture Expo

The Director of the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA), Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, has called for a renewed national commitment to agricultural production as Ghana seeks to reduce its dependence on food imports and build a more resilient economy.

Dr. Otokunor said Ghana’s quest for economic transformation must begin with a deliberate effort to strengthen domestic agricultural production, improve value chains and create an environment where farmers and agribusinesses can thrive.

He made the call when he joined stakeholders at the Horticulture Expo 2026, organised by the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), where he delivered remarks on the theme, “From Soil to Sovereignty: Building Ghana’s Agricultural Self-Reliance.”

According to him, the theme was particularly relevant to Ghana’s development aspirations and fitted squarely into the government’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), being championed by President John Dramani Mahama.

Dr. Otokunor noted that agriculture was not only about food production but also a critical pillar for job creation, industrialisation, foreign exchange earnings and broader economic development.

He said Ghana had the potential to produce significantly more of the food and agricultural commodities it currently imports, stressing that unlocking that potential would require stronger collaboration among farmers, the private sector, financial institutions, government and development partners.

The PIAA Director said increasing local production and strengthening agricultural value chains would help reduce the country’s vulnerability to external shocks while creating opportunities for young people and businesses across the agricultural sector.

He further emphasised the need for Ghana to move beyond the production of raw agricultural commodities and develop stronger systems for processing, packaging, marketing and exporting value-added products.

That, he said, would enable farmers to earn better incomes while positioning Ghanaian agricultural products to compete more effectively on both local and international markets.

Dr. Otokunor also acknowledged the contributions of farmers, exporters, financial institutions, development partners and other stakeholders whose activities continue to drive innovation and growth in Ghana’s horticulture industry.

He commended FAGE for providing a platform that brings together key players in the horticultural and broader agricultural sector to exchange ideas, establish partnerships and explore opportunities for growth.

The Horticulture Expo, he said, offered an important avenue for industry players to discuss some of the challenges confronting the sector while identifying practical solutions to unlock its full potential.

He maintained that the transformation of Ghana’s agriculture could not be achieved by government alone, insisting that sustained private-sector participation and investment would be crucial to building a competitive agricultural industry.

Dr. Otokunor said the government’s agricultural transformation agenda was therefore intended to create the conditions for farmers and agribusinesses to increase production, expand their operations and contribute meaningfully to the national economy.

He called for stronger partnerships across the agricultural value chain, particularly in areas such as technology, finance, research, extension services, irrigation, storage and market access.

With Ghana facing the twin challenge of creating enough jobs for its growing population and reducing pressure on its foreign exchange resources, he said agriculture presented one of the strongest opportunities to achieve both objectives.

Dr. Otokunor expressed optimism that with the right investments and coordinated interventions, Ghana could move from being heavily dependent on imported agricultural products to becoming a more productive and self-sufficient food-producing nation.

“Together, we can move from soil to sovereignty and build a productive, competitive and self-reliant agricultural sector that delivers prosperity for all Ghanaians,” he said.

The PIAA is expected to continue working with relevant stakeholders to advance the government’s agricultural transformation agenda and ensure that investment in agriculture translates into tangible benefits for farmers, agribusinesses and the wider Ghanaian economy.