In a lighthearted moment during the Ghana Tree Crop Investment Summit on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama jokingly warned his appointees that owning a farm has become a "mitigating factor" for surviving any future cabinet reshuffle. The remark was made to emphasize his administration's "Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda" (AETA), which encourages all citizens—especially those in public office—to lead by example and invest in local food production.
 |
| President John Mahama |
Presidential Remarks at the Ghana Tree Crop Investment Summit
The President made these comments while delivering the keynote address at the Accra International Conference Centre, where over 6,000 global stakeholders had gathered to discuss sustainable growth in the tree crop sector.
Leading by Example: President Mahama, who identifies himself as a farmer, revealed that he personally cultivates crops such as cocoa and oil palm.
A New "Requirement": He jokingly told his ministers that "owning a farm" would be a key factor in his considerations during any reshuffle, sparking laughter from the audience.
Call to Leaders: Beyond his cabinet, the President challenged traditional rulers, religious leaders, and other public officials to actively engage in agriculture to help drive national prosperity.
The Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA)
The joke served a serious policy purpose, highlighting the central commitment of the government's current economic plan. The Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda is designed to modernize Ghana's agricultural landscape and promote high-value agribusiness.
Key components of the AETA include:
Value Addition: Shifting away from raw commodity exports toward local processing to create jobs and enhance economic resilience.
Farmer Support: Reintroducing free fertilizer distribution, establishing farmer service centers in all districts, and operationalizing the cocoa farmer pension scheme.
Strategic Crops: Launching a new program to boost and process commercial crops like cashew, palm, rubber, and coconut in dedicated agro-industrial zones.
Ghana’s $3 Billion Food Import Challenge
The push for a "Farmer Cabinet" also addresses the urgent need to reduce the nation's high food import bill. President Mahama has previously warned that Ghana's annual spending of $3 billion on basic food imports is "unsustainable".
Under the AETA, the government is implementing the Feed Ghana Programme and the Vegetable Development Project ("YƐREDUA") to boost local production of staples like rice, tomatoes, and onions.
What Happens Next
The Ghana Tree Crop Investment Summit continues through February 20, 2026, with organizers projecting up to $500 million in new investment interest across the tree crop economy
0 Comments