Minister Eric Opoku Touts Low Food Inflation Amid Infrastructure Gains and Parliamentary Calls for Program Audit

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced a historic milestone in Ghana's economy, stating that food inflation has dropped below four percent. This achievement is attributed to deliberate government interventions rather than chance, marking one of the lowest rates in decades. According to the Minister, this decline has significantly increased the disposable income of Ghanaian families, allowing for better resource allocation. To sustain this momentum, the government recently distributed approximately 500,000 bags of free fertilizer to peasant farmers—who constitute 80% of the local farming community—as an emergency measure to mitigate the impact of soaring global prices and geopolitical tensions.

In tandem with economic policies, the Ministry is prioritizing infrastructure development through both public and private channels. Minister Opoku recently inspected two major irrigation projects in the Kwahu Afram Plains: the Ekyeamamfrom Economic Enclave and Konadu Irrigation projects. While these facilities are near completion (85% and 96% respectively), they face challenges including funding gaps and disruptions from Fulani herdsmen. Simultaneously, the Ministry’s national headquarters is undergoing a GHS 1,068,455 renovation fully funded by 3TREES Ghana Painting Ltd under the 'Brighten Ghana Initiative,' a move intended to foster private-sector collaboration ahead of the 42nd National Farmers’ Day in 2026.

However, the government's agricultural strategy has faced sharp criticism in Parliament regarding the management of social intervention programs. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has officially called on the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to investigate the 'Nkoko Nkitinkiti' poultry program. The demand for a probe follows reports that some beneficiaries consumed the birds provided for rearing instead of using them to establish sustainable livelihoods. Afenyo-Markin emphasized that such misuse of public resources necessitates immediate accountability to ensure that state-funded initiatives actually achieve their goal of boosting local poultry production.

Looking toward long-term sustainability, a recent study titled 'Youth in Just Food Systems Transitions' advocates for a bipartisan food systems policy to ensure continuity across political administrations. The research, presented in Tamale, highlights that while 40% of Ghanaian youth are active in the food value chain, they continue to face significant income disparities and limited access to resources. Experts argue that establishing a stable, bipartisan framework—focused on agroecological farming and climate-resilient infrastructure—is essential to empower the next generation of farmers and secure Ghana's food future regardless of which party is in power.