At the 2025 National Farmers’ Day celebration, President John Dramani Mahama sounded the alarm on the burden of high lending rates on Ghanaian farmers, saying many producers are unable to turn a real profit under current financial conditions. According to him, the situation leaves farmers “toiling for the financial institutions instead of reaping the rewards of their labour.”
Mahama said the government is now placing top priority on reducing agricultural loan interest rates to below 10 percent, a move he believes will make credit more accessible and encourage investment across the sector.
He commended women in agriculture—particularly those in crop production and fishing—for championing the issue of affordable credit. Their persistent calls for fair lending, he said, have prompted policymakers to accelerate reforms that will bring relief to small-scale producers.
Under the theme “Feed Ghana to Secure Our Future,” this year’s celebration focused attention on the country’s heavy dependence on imported food. Ghana’s food import bill, which remains around three billion cedis, highlights the urgency of expanding domestic output.
The President emphasized that cheaper loans and fairer access to financial services will be decisive in empowering farmers, reducing imports, and building a robust agricultural sector capable of sustaining the nation.
