
Peace efforts underway in Sawla, Bole as President Mahama sends high-powered delegation to mediate conflict
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31st August 2025 11:56:17 AM
5 mins readBy: Phoebe Martekie Doku
Qatar has expressed interest in Ghana’s food production sector through a deal with the government of Ghana to support agricultural production. Addressing the media on Friday, August 29, the Food and Agriculture Minister, Eric Opoku, revealed that Qatar plans to commit $1.5 billion into the agriculture sector by November.
As part of the agreement, Qatar is expected to obtain, irrigate Ghanaian farmlands and assigned to local farmers to grow crops. The food produce will be purchased by Qatar exported to feed its population.
According to the Agriculture Minister, the project aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda, with a goal of unemployment in the country. He noted that over two thousand, five hundred (2,500) Ghanaian citizens are expected to be employed as well as acquire skills once the project is launched.
“$1.5billion is going into food production. You know Qatar does not have the land to produce the food to feed its population. Now what they want to do with us is that they will make the funds available, they will secure land, irrigate the land, allocate the land to the farmers to produce the food and then they will buy the food and export to Qatar.
“Under that arrangement agriculture will be agribusiness. It will be a money making venture and everybody will be interested in doing that. In fact we are done with them and the assurance is that their German technical people will be in the country to start with the implementation right from November to December.
“In fact we are done with them, the assurance is that the assurance is that their German technical people will be in the country to start with the implementation right from November, December. So we are hopeful that as soon as that is put in place, we will create direct jobs of over 2,500 and it will contribute significantly to the development of our economy because it is going to reduce the importation of fertilizer into this country,” he noted.
Ghana has recorded a decline in its poverty rate from 26.4 percent in 2023 to 25.9 percent in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to the Fund, the Ghanaian population living in extreme poverty is measured at the international poverty line of $2.15 daily.
The improved growth outcome recorded last year, particularly in services and agriculture, as well as continued efforts to expand the country’s social protection programmes, led to a drop in poverty.
This included the four highly targeted programmes covered by the programme conditionality: the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the Ghana School Feeding Program (GSFP), the Capitation Grant, and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Fund stated in its 4th Review Under the Economic Credit Facility Arrangement with Ghana that the government is redoubling efforts to expand social spending and shorten delays in releasing budgeted funds to beneficiaries.
According to the International Monetary Fund, going forward, “staying the course of macroeconomic policy adjustment and reforms is essential to fully and durably restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability, while fostering a sustainable increase in economic growth and poverty reduction.”
In April, President Mahama launched the ‘Feed Ghana Programme’ as a key component of his plan to strengthen Ghana’s economy through farming.
At the launch in Techiman on Saturday, April 12, Mr. Mahama emphasized that making farming central to Ghana’s progress can only be achieved through stringent agricultural policies.
“Mr. Chairman, the time has come for bold and decisive actions. We must no longer treat agriculture as an afterthought. Agriculture must be placed at the center of our national economic transformation,” he stated.
He said the Feed Ghana Programme is just the beginning of a bigger plan called the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), which aims to grow and modernize farming, create jobs, reduce food prices, and make sure there is always enough food in the country.
Mr. Mahama added that the programme would be the main framework guiding all agricultural projects and initiatives. It is focused on boosting food production, encouraging modern farming methods, improving farm infrastructure, and building agro-industrial areas around the country.
Mr. Mahama emphasized that the Feed Ghana Programme shows his government is serious about making farming a priority and investing in it.
“It represents a bold commitment to put our resources where our ambitions lie,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the RNAQ Food Bank initiative has been launched by Ghanaian entrepreneur and Investor, Richard Nii Amarh Quaye. RNAQ Foundation’s flagship Food Bank initiative is aimed at combating food insecurity and empowering vulnerable communities across Ghana.
According to the foundation, the RNAQ Food Bank initiative will partner with local food vendors to establish accessible food distribution hubs across the country.
During the launch event on Friday, August 1, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, the founder, Richard Nii Amarh Quaye, shared a heartfelt reflection on the inspiration behind the project in his keynote address.
“I stand before you as a man who remembers what it feels like to be hungry, not just for food, but for hope, for dignity, and for change. Today, we launched the RNAQ Food Bank. But this is not just about food. This is about justice. It’s about dignity. It’s about telling every Ghanaian… that you also matter.”
He further mentioned that the initiative would begin with five food bank locations in Greater Accra, Korle-Gonno, Kasoa, Ashaiman, Odorkor, and Madina, with plans to expand nationwide.
“These food banks will open every single day, and through them, thousands of people will be fed daily. This is not charity. This is nation-building. This is how we create the Ghana we’ve all been dreaming of, one plate at a time,” he added.
This vision has earned Richard Nii Amarh Quaye applause and massive support from the government. Chief Executive officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Osman Abdulai Ayariga, commended the initiative, describing it as a much-needed response to the growing food challenges facing young people and children.
“This food bank offers relief and hope. It is not just charity; it is impactful, and it will touch generations. In Ghana alone, 3.6 million students, about 11.7% of our population, struggle with access to sufficient food, with risk levels exceeding 30% in many northern districts,” Mr. Ayariga said.
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