Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has drawn attention to what he described as a ‘pathetic’ reliance on food imports, urging a shift from smallholder to large-scale commercial farming to secure Ghana’s food independence.
Speaking during discussions marking the lead-up to National Farmers’ Day in Parliament, Mr. Ayariga commended Ghana’s farmers but warned that the country’s annual food import bill, estimated at between $3.5 billion and $4.5 billion, undermines local efforts.
“Since being a child, every year I have heard of National Farmers’ Day, but as we speak, our food import still stands at over $3.5 billion,” he said.
He pointed out that despite the country’s abundant arable land and water resources, Ghana continues to spend billions importing staples, exporting jobs, and missing opportunities to strengthen its agricultural economy.
According to Mr. Ayariga, the solution lies in transforming farming into a structured, mechanised, and commercial enterprise. He called for investment in large-acreage farms, irrigation systems, and modern equipment, arguing that farming should be treated as an engineering exercise akin to road construction.
“Unless we transition from peasant farming of one or two acres to large commercial farming of thousands of acreages, using high-tech equipment, I can assure you we will remain importers of food,” he said.
The Majority Leader also highlighted the economic potential of commercial farming, citing a visit by northern regional ministers to South Africa’s Limpopo province. There, a 1,000-acre farm employed 200 permanent staff and up to 1,000 seasonal workers, demonstrating how large-scale agriculture can create jobs and stimulate local economies.
Ghana will observe National Farmers’ Day on Friday, December 5, 2025, in the Volta Region under the theme “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future.”
