BY Issah Olegor
As Ghana commemorates the 2025 National Farmers’ Day, the Minority in Parliament has issued a sobering assessment of the state of the country’s agricultural and fisheries sectors, arguing that beneath the annual celebrations lies a devastating reality of neglect, unfulfilled promises, and systemic policy failures.
In a strongly worded statement issued on December 5, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the day, traditionally used to celebrate the invaluable contributions of farmers and fisherfolk, must instead prompt a “national reflection” on the worsening crises confronting the men and women who feed the nation.
Farmers’ Resilience Amid Broken Promises
The Minority highlighted what it described as an unprecedented collapse in the grain market, leaving more than one million metric tonnes of paddy rice—worth about GH¢5 billion—unsold across the Northern, Upper East and North East regions.
According to the caucus, the government failed to honour its pledge to purchase all locally produced maize and rice through the National Food Buffer Stock Company by September 2025.
This unfulfilled promise, they stressed, has left thousands of farmers stranded with massive financial losses while undermining the nation’s food security.
Yet, despite the hardship, the Minority praised the resilience of farmers who continue to work their fields under dire circumstances.
Fisherfolk Hard Hit by Premix Fuel Shortages
The fishing communities have not been spared. The Minority expressed grave concern over chronic premix fuel shortages that have crippled fishing activities, especially in areas such as Keta in the Volta Region. Boats remain docked, incomes frozen and coastal livelihoods threatened.
The statement said the non-supply of premix fuel reflects a deeper pattern of government neglect—one that hampers a sector already stressed by depleted fish stocks, illegal fishing practices and rising operational costs.
A Year Marked By Protests And Frustration
This year witnessed the first-ever mass protests by key farmer associations, who marched through Tamale in October to demand the fulfilment of the government’s promise to buy their grain.
The Minority described this rare mobilisation as “a tipping point in agricultural despair,” signalling the extent of frustration within farming communities.
Smuggled Imports Compounding Local Market Distress
The caucus also raised alarm over the influx of smuggled, unregulated and in some cases expired rice—allegedly facilitated by politically connected importers. With the cedi appreciating and global grain prices falling, imported rice has become cheaper, squeezing local farmers out of the market.
A similar situation is playing out in the fisheries sector, where illicit imports and illegal fishing undermine the livelihoods of Ghanaian fishers.
Cocoa Sector Threatened By Price Crash and Galamsey
Once the backbone of the economy, the cocoa industry is also under severe strain. The Minority noted that after global prices surged to historic highs in 2024, cocoa prices have since plummeted by nearly half—destabilising household incomes in cocoa-growing areas.
More alarming, they said, is the continued destruction of cocoa farms by illegal mining activities. COCOBOD estimates that over 30,000 hectares of cocoa plantations have already been lost to galamsey. Entire farming communities are grappling with polluted rivers, degraded soils and collapsing livelihoods.
Impending National Water Crisis
The Minority cited recent warnings from the Ghana Water Company about rising turbidity levels in major rivers, including the Ayensu River, where levels reportedly hit 30,000 NTU—well above the 2,500 NTU threshold for effective treatment.
The caucus argued that uncontrolled illegal mining does not only endanger drinking water systems but erodes irrigation potential and destroys aquatic life, hitting both farmers and fishing communities.
High Production Costs And Poor Infrastructure
Despite a drop in fertiliser prices last year, the Minority said many farmers still face high production costs due to transportation challenges, lack of storage, and limited access to financing. Fishers continue to struggle with the rising cost of nets, outboard motors and unreliable fuel supply.
The group lamented that Ghana still spends between US$3.5 billion and US$4.5 billion annually on food imports—including US$400 million worth of poultry and huge quantities of fish—despite having the capacity to produce more locally.
Minority’s Call for An AI-Driven Agricultural Transformation
In a forward-looking section of the statement, the Minority urged the government to embrace modern, AI-powered solutions to transform the agricultural and fisheries sectors. Their proposals include:
AI systems for disease detection and pest control
Drone-assisted fertiliser and pesticide application
Precision farming technologies
Smart irrigation systems
Digital tools for fish stock assessment
National AI platforms for price forecasting and market access
The caucus believes that embracing technology will boost yields, reduce post-harvest losses, make local produce competitive, and create thousands of jobs.
Demands To Government
To address the immediate challenges, the Minority called for:
1. Immediate purchase of all unsold grain.
2. Restoration of reliable premix fuel supply to fishing communities.
3. Enforcement against smuggled and expired food imports.
4. Strong measures against illegal mining and unregulated fishing.
5. Full funding and expansion of the Feed Ghana Programme.
6. Technology subsidies for farmers and fishers.
7. Major investment in irrigation, storage, cold chain systems, landing sites and agro-processing infrastructure.l
Honouring Food Heroes
Despite the grim assessment, the Minority concluded by celebrating the hard work and perseverance of Ghana’s farmers and fishers. They described them as “heroes whose courage feeds the nation and sustains our democracy.”
