Sam Jonah calls for renewed agricultural investment, recalls Operation Feed Yourself achievements

Sir Sam Jonah, a prominent business leader, recently called for increased agricultural investment in Ghana, lamenting the decline of the nation's food production efforts following the success of General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong's Operation Feed Yourself campaign. Delivering the Second General I.K. Acheampong Memorial Lecture in Accra on November 13, 2026, Jonah criticized successive governments for abandoning the agricultural gains of the campaign, which he believed led to the collapse of a successful food production initiative.

The program, launched in 1972, aimed to transform Ghana into a self-sufficient nation by mobilizing traditional authorities and communities in agricultural production. It utilized radio broadcasts and information vans to encourage participation across the country, with subsidies provided for essential agricultural tools and resources like cutlasses, hoes, fertilizers, and seeds.

Additionally, feeder roads facilitated the transport of produce to markets, while government investments in water infrastructure, such as the Dawenya, Asutsuare, and Tono dam, bolstered agricultural output.

Operation Feed Yourself yielded significant results, particularly in rice production. Imports of the staple crop were eliminated in 1975 and again in 1976, allowing local farmers to export rice and tomatoes to neighboring countries like Upper Volta. Tamale, a city in northern Ghana, earned the nickname "The Rice City" due to the success of the campaign in the region.

Jonah argued that the program demonstrated Ghana's potential for substantial improvements in domestic food production when agricultural policies received sustained investment and nationwide support.

Jonah lamented that Operation Feed Yourself's decline represented a missed opportunity for the country. He contrasted the program's reported achievements with Ghana's current food import bill, estimated at around US$2 billion annually, with rice and chicken being significant contributors. Introduced under Acheampong's military government in 1972, the campaign was led by Colonel Frank Bernasko, who played a crucial role in mobilizing traditional authorities and communities.

Jonah's remarks were part of a larger call for renewed investment in agriculture and a stronger national commitment to food security.