Ghana must urgently rethink how it approaches agribusiness if it hopes to build a stronger, more inclusive industrial economy, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact Limited, Mrs. Juliana Asante-Dartey, has said.
Addressing participants at the Regional Agribusiness Dialogue in Sunyani on Monday, October 13, 2025, Mrs. Asante-Dartey called for bold reforms and a renewed national focus on transforming the country’s agricultural capacity into tangible productivity. The event was held under the theme “Resetting Agribusiness for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Growth.”
“The importance of agribusiness and its transformative power in our economy cannot be overstated. It is indeed the key to unlock jobs and wealth for our nation,” she stated. “We have no excuse for where we find ourselves. The challenge is how do we turn this potential into productivity, and how do we turn our capacity into better coordinated outcomes?”
She challenged policymakers to confront the inefficiencies stifling the sector and to ensure that agribusiness policies truly reflect realities on the ground, not just those observed in Accra. “Are our current policies fully fit for purpose? Are they inclusive of young people, women, and persons with disabilities?” she asked.
Mrs. Asante-Dartey also urged the integration of sustainability and technology into agricultural growth plans. “As we grow, we have seen the emergence of AI and the role of technology. We have to be sure that policies are not afterthoughts,” she noted.
Sharing her experience traveling to the Bono Region, she drew attention to how poor infrastructure hinders business operations. “Even for me, just being in the car was tough. So I am imagining if you have to send day-old chicks from here to Accra or bring in produce. The impact on business is not just the inconvenience, it’s also the cost and lost productivity.”
The Agri-Impact executive revealed that Ghana loses between 20 and 50 percent of its harvest before reaching the market. “We are losing over $2 billion worth of food annually, and nearly the same amount in post-harvest losses. Combined, that’s over $3 billion every year in lost income and foreign exchange,” she said.
Using cashew and bifonia as examples, she emphasized the immense benefits of value addition. “A kilo of bifonia sells for $2, but when processed into an active ingredient, it can go as high as $100. The multiplier is enormous. If we stop at raw production, we lose out completely.”
Mrs. Asante-Dartey called for collaboration between government and the private sector to build a more supportive business environment. “We must reward productivity and not promote import dependency,” she stated, highlighting the challenges of high borrowing costs, weak enforcement on imports, and limited government support for local producers.
She also urged Ghanaians to support locally made products as a show of national commitment. “As we demand better quality from our local producers, are we willing to patronize their products and pay a little extra to support them? Every cedi spent on imports is a cedi lost in jobs, innovation, and national wealth,” she said.
To address financing challenges in the sector, she proposed the establishment of a dedicated Agri-Fund, similar to the GETFund and NHIS, to provide long-term financial support for agribusinesses. “If we truly believe agriculture is the engine for transformation, then we must establish an Agri-Fund that is dedicated to agribusiness advancement,” she added.
Mrs. Asante-Dartey further urged stronger collaboration between research institutions and industry players. “Our research must address real-world problems and provide practical solutions that enhance productivity. We must pull our resources and expertise together to solve the challenges of the agribusiness sector,” she said.
For his part, the Deputy Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Hon. Sampson Ahi, said the ongoing regional consultations represent a key step in reshaping Ghana’s agribusiness sector and driving the nation’s transition from an agrarian to an industrialized economy.
“This consultation marks a crucial moment in our shared mission to transition our country from an agrarian economy to an industrialized one,” he said. He explained that the inclusion of Agribusiness in the Ministry’s name was intentional and meant to highlight government’s commitment to value addition and value chain development.
The minister noted that the global agribusiness market, currently valued at about $3.5 trillion, is projected to rise to nearly $5.8 trillion by 2033. “We can position ourselves to harness this growth through investment in innovation, sustainable practices, contract commercial farming, and value-added processing,” he said.
Mr. Ahi revealed that government is pursuing a two-pronged strategy to promote agro-industrialization. In the short term, taxes on agro-processing machinery will be waived to attract more investment and improve access to modern technology. In the medium to long term, government will strengthen local manufacturing capacity through institutions like GRATIS Foundation with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
“These measures will strengthen local capacity to design, manufacture, and repair agro-processing machines, reducing dependence on imports and stimulating innovation in the machinery manufacturing sector,” he said.
He further announced that the Ministry is developing a Comprehensive Agribusiness Policy to enhance value chains, improve raw material quality, and expand the agro-processing industry. The policy, he said, focuses on sustainability, productivity, export competitiveness, and job creation.
“As we work towards resetting our nation, I urge all Ghanaians to recognize the enormous benefits the agribusiness sector can bring to our economy,” the minister concluded. “This requires a collective effort from every citizen. If we work together, we can reset our economy, creating a stable and thriving environment that benefits everyone.”
