Structural challenges affecting agric sector must be fixed – Ofori-Atta

Amid concerns of a food crisis in Ghana, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has asked various stakeholders to address structural challenges hindering the agricultural sector from realising its full potential.

He indicated that although the government had made strides through its flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs, other stakeholders must come on board to surmount the challenges confronting the agricultural sector.

“Even as we in government are preoccupied with finding urgent solutions to the emerging food crisis, precipitated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we cannot afford to take our eyes off the medium and long-term structural issues that we must tackle.”

“A lot is required from businesses, banks, various government agencies, and experts to realise the agricultural transformation that we all desire,” the Minister said.

Proferring solutions for these challenges, Ken Ofori-Atta posited that the focus should largely be on conserving foreign exchange, increasing food security, and creating good jobs.

“We must make progress in these areas in order to substantially eliminate our dependence on foreign imports,” he clarified at the launch of GIRSAL’s Agriculture Stakeholder Convening Platform on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.

The Platform dubbed “Agribusiness Public-Private Partnership Platform” forms part of  GIRSAL’s efforts at addressing agricultural challenges and providing sustainable solutions.