Arise Ghana calls for reforms to resolve challenges in Agric sector

Civil Society Organization Arise Ghana has urged the Ghanaian government to implement significant policy and legislative reforms to resolve long-standing issues within the country's agriculture sector. During a recent press conference, Selorm Dramani, a prominent member of the group, emphasized that the Ghanaian people have a right to know about the successes, shortcomings, and impacts of government interventions on farmers and food production.

While acknowledging substantial efforts made to bolster the agriculture sector, Arise Ghana asserts that more must be done to translate these initiatives into sustainable improvements for farmers and consumers. The group highlighted Ghana's vast potential to transform into a leading food-producing and agro-processing economy on the African continent, contingent on consistency, investment, accountability, and a long-term national vision.

The Arise Ghana assessment of the performance of the Minister for Food and Agriculture revealed that the minister has excelled in certain areas. However, the group stresses that the true measurement of the minister's success should be determined by the tangible outcomes on farms, in markets, and in the homes of ordinary Ghanaians, rather than by the quantity of policy announcements.

In line with their mission to advocate for agricultural reforms, Arise Ghana has put forth a series of recommendations for the Agriculture Minister, aimed at enhancing policy implementation, increasing accountability, and delivering better results for the sector. These recommendations include:

1. Establishing measurable annual targets for major agricultural programs.

2. Implementing a transparent public monitoring system for citizens to track program execution.

3. Strengthening farmer databases to minimize ineligible beneficiaries and enhance targeting.

4. Expanding irrigation infrastructure with clear maintenance arrangements.

5. Improving access to affordable agricultural finance, particularly for smallholder farmers and young agribusiness entrepreneurs.

6. Enhancing agricultural extension services with proper logistics for extension officers.

7. Revising agricultural marketing systems to guarantee farmers reliable and profitable markets.

8. Investing significantly in storage and agro-processing facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.

9. Promoting greater involvement of women and young people in agricultural programs.

10. Institutionalizing agricultural reforms to ensure the continuity of successful programs amidst changes in government leadership.