Daniel Fahene Acquaye
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agri-Impact Limited, Daniel Fahene Acquaye, has commended the government for giving greater visibility to agriculture and agribusiness initiatives, a move he says is driving innovation, startups, and entrepreneurship within the sector.
Speaking in an interview with journalists, Mr. Acquaye noted that the government’s deliberate effort to showcase agriculture as a viable career path is attracting the youth, changing long-held perceptions, and encouraging broader participation in the sector.
“We like the visibility; it is key. If you want people to invest in an area, you talk about it. If you don’t talk about it, if you don’t make it visible, people will not invest,” he said.
“The visibility of agriculture and agribusiness is fantastic. It is drawing attention, so people who even have resources in other areas will begin to think about the industry,” he added.
Mr. Acquaye further pointed to significant improvements in budgetary allocations to the sector as evidence of government commitment.
He explained that in 2024, only 0.5 percent of the national budget was allocated to agriculture and agribusiness, amounting to about GH¢1.5 billion. However, the 2026 budget shows a sharp increase, with an allocation of about GH¢13 billion.
“That is a huge jump. Almost nine to ten times what was allocated previously. These funds are earmarked for critical infrastructure such as irrigation, roads, and electricity to boost agribusiness,” he said.
According to the Agri-Impact Limited CEO, agriculture and agribusiness have the potential to significantly transform the nation’s economy if value addition is prioritised. He stressed the importance of moving beyond primary production into agro-processing.
“With adequate raw material supply, we can move into agro-processing and value addition. That is why we are emphasising agribusiness, which is the business side of agriculture,” he explained.
Mr. Acquaye compared Ghana’s situation with that of more advanced economies, noting that in countries such as South Africa, agriculture contributes about three percent to GDP, while agribusiness contributes roughly ten percent.
In Ghana, he said, the reverse is the case, indicating a lack of value addition.
“This shows we are not adding enough value to our produce. Agribusiness has the opportunity to be a flagship sector, not just a department within a ministry,” he added.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke