Ghana Ministry of Food and Agriculture and West African Leaders Champion Innovation in Farming and Energy Infrastructure

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has officially launched a significant phase of the Feed Ghana Programme, distributing 40,000 bags of inorganic fertiliser and advanced agricultural drones to the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana. This initiative represents a cornerstone of the national fertiliser support project, which aims to distribute approximately one million bags across all 276 agricultural constituencies. To further support sustainable practices, the Ministry also allocated 8,000 cartons of organic fertiliser to various farmer groups. The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, emphasized that this move is not merely a distribution of goods but a distribution of opportunity and confidence, signaling a shift toward a modern, robust agricultural framework aimed at securing the nation's food future.

Central to this modernization effort is the integration of drone technology to drive precision agriculture. By providing real-time data for crop monitoring and management, the government intends to improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, and minimize environmental impact. Minister Opoku noted that the introduction of these five advanced drones is specifically designed to attract the youth to the agricultural sector, moving away from traditional, labor-intensive methods toward a high-tech, data-driven industry. This technological leap is expected to create jobs and ensure long-term sustainability for Ghanaian farmers, reinforcing their role in the country's economic transformation agenda.

Complementing these national efforts is an international collaboration targeting some of the region's most persistent agricultural threats. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have launched a specialized initiative to combat Striga, a parasitic weed that can cause up to 100% crop loss in cereals like maize and sorghum. Dr. Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur of the joint FAO/IAEA Centre revealed that advanced mutation breeding techniques are being used to develop resistant sorghum varieties. This project, currently in its seed multiplication phase, is poised to begin experimental field testing shortly, providing a vital scientific layer to Africa’s broader food security strategy.

Beyond agriculture, the drive for socio-economic transformation was a primary focus at the 2026 West Africa Gas Summit (WAGS) held in Accra. Senior energy officials, including Ghana's Energy Minister, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, and Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, called for the conversion of Africa's vast gas wealth into tangible prosperity. Highlighting the West African Gas Pipeline as a model of success, leaders urged for interconnected markets and resilient infrastructure. The summit concluded with a consensus that political will and regional partnerships are essential to addressing energy access and infrastructure gaps, ultimately ensuring that the continent's natural resources drive industrial and economic growth.