By Kwame Bediako
Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has called on young people in the country to reconsider their priorities and invest more in agriculture, highlighting its potential to foster national development.
Addressing a gathering during a tour of technology firms, he emphasised that farming offers more reliable and profitable opportunities than sports betting, which he described as a high-risk activity that often results in financial loss.
The minister pointed out that many youth are currently engaging heavily in sports betting, risking their earnings on unpredictable outcomes. He illustrated this by saying, “People are betting and losing. If you’re someone who bets, you might stake money thinking Arsenal will beat PSG because they beat them 3-0 six months ago. Then you place the bet, and we lose 1-0, and your money is gone.”
He further explained that investing in agriculture could have lasting positive impacts on individual families and communities. “Meanwhile, you could have invested that same money in farming and positively impacted the life of a man or woman, along with their spouse and children. At the very least, you’d be assured of getting your money back after a year,” he added, urging youth to see farming as a viable and rewarding enterprise.
The minister also stressed the importance of cultivating interest among young people in agriculture to help solve Ghana’s food security challenges. He emphasized that food security is intertwined with national security and that encouraging youth participation in farming is vital for sustainable development and economic resilience.
