Agrihouse Foundation Executive Director Calls for Rural Infrastructure, Value Addition to Transform Agriculture
Executive Director of AgriHouse Foundation, Alberta Akosa, has underscored the urgent need for enhanced rural infrastructure, youth inclusion, and coordinated value addition across the agricultural value chain to drive Ghana’s transformation into an industrial powerhouse.
Speaking at the 14th Ghana Economic Forum during a panel discussion on the theme, “Value Addition for Currency Stability: Transforming Agriculture into an Industrial Powerhouse,” Ms. Akosa noted that years of working with over 1.3 million farmers have revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the country’s agricultural landscape.
She described the sector as comprising “the good, the bad, and the ugly,” explaining that while there are vibrant and motivated young people eager to lead in agriculture, they often lack exposure to available opportunities.
“The good is that every time we see vibrant youth who want to take the lead and take charge, but are not exposed to the opportunities. The bad is that we also have an aging population of farmers who are very passionate — I see them as the gold in the soil, the seed, the soul in the heart of agriculture,” she stated.
Ms. Akosa expressed concern about the absence of essential infrastructure in farming communities, stressing that the lack of access to inputs and basic facilities continues to hinder productivity.
“Ghana has 16 regions, over 261 districts and 16,000 communities, but many smallholder farmers scattered across these areas still have to travel long distances to access inputs,” she said, adding that adequate infrastructure across all regions would not only improve agricultural productivity but also curb rural-urban migration.
According to her, rural depopulation has particularly affected young women, noting that “many young girls in areas such as Limbinsi are migrating to Accra to engage in menial jobs like kayaking because of the lack of local opportunities.”
Highlighting what she termed “the ugly” side of the sector, Ms. Akosa observed that despite the potential of Ghana’s youth, inadequate policy inclusion and resource support have stifled their contributions to the nation’s food systems.
“It’s time that we don’t only walk the walk but walk the talk — right from leadership to the grassroots,” she asserted.
Ms. Akosa further pointed to the need for a mindset shift among stakeholders, arguing that many actors in the agricultural value chain tend to prioritize short-term profits over long-term value creation.
“We look at the profits more than the value; we are short-term people. Even when resources are made available, we think of immediate gain instead of the value in the long term,” she lamented.
She called for stronger collaboration among farmer groups and agribusinesses to enhance export competitiveness, noting that Ghana often fails to meet export demand due to fragmented efforts.
“When we get export opportunities, we do one or two containers and stop. We need to build strong associations, pool our resources and negotiate better so that we can sustain exports and regain buyers’ confidence,” Ms. Akosa urged.
Emphasizing her key message, the AgriHouse Foundation Executive Director concluded with a call to action: “It is about how we connect the unconnected — whether through policy, leadership, or mindset — that will determine how far we go in transforming agriculture into an industrial powerhouse.”
