Ghana’s agricultural plans consistently falter due to frequent political changes that disrupt continuity. New administrations often reset established programs, causing chaos in the agricultural sector. This results in unpredictability for farmers, particularly affecting women and young people. To resolve these issues, it is essential to establish independent agricultural authorities, improve data systems, and create bipartisan agreements on food security policies for long-term stability.
Every few years, Ghana unveils a new agricultural masterplan that promises change with catchy slogans and ambitious goals. Programs like “Operation Feed Yourself” and “Planting for Food and Jobs” roll out with speeches and pilot initiatives. However, as excitement fades, many farmers remain without needed support while heavy warehouses age unused under the sun. What is happening here?
The underlying issue isn’t just about funding or know-how; it’s a larger matter of continuity—or lack thereof. Each new government seems to reset the agricultural chessboard, disregarding prior efforts. As a result, abandoned policies pile up, and the sector often finds itself in a state of confusion rather than flourishing crops.
Political shifts in Ghana typically accompany each electoral cycle, and therein lies the problem. A recent discussion revealed a concerning trend: new administrations often discard or diminish previous agricultural initiatives, causing significant disruption in continuity. With each new government comes an inevitable reshuffling of priorities, which places existing programs at risk.
Take into account the numerous food distribution centers and silos constructed since the 1980s. Despite their potential, many sit unused or find themselves repurposed, often because the departing team left behind no blueprint to follow. New leaders frequently lack access to essential records, contributing to this lack of continuity and systemic amnesia that plagues Ghana’s agricultural landscape.
Farmers, as a result, experience untold unpredictability. Some seasons bring fertilizer subsidies, while others do not. Unregulated imports can drastically crash prices, then skyrocket unexpectedly when storage options are limited. It is hard to predict costs—for example, watermelon prices swing dramatically week to week. And challenges with supply also affect other local staples, creating additional struggles for rural communities.
Advocates for farmer cooperation appear to be dwindling, leaving many smallholders vulnerable against urban traders. Programs intended to support young agricultural graduates often falter due to political partisanship, leaving many without vital resources like land or finance.
Moreover, women farmers, despite being integral to agriculture, face even steeper hurdles. Limited access to land and credit can severely hinder their productivity and many rural families’ food security.
Ghana is not short on agricultural ideas. Multiple sound initiatives exist; the execution, however, falls flat. Countries like Rwanda have successfully insulated agriculture from politics, ensuring long-term objectives remain intact regardless of electoral changes. Attached to this is a valuable lesson for Ghana, which tends to decentralize responsibility but centralizes planning. When things go awry, blame is easily shifted.
To remedy this troubling cycle, three key changes must be made: First, establish an independent Ghana Agricultural Development Authority, or something similar, designed to run without political interference and be insulated from electoral shifts. Second, create a national digital agri hub to centralize data and information for better continuity. Third, encourage a bipartisan agreement on a national roadmap for food security to provide stability and consistency.
In many ways, Ghana’s farmers show remarkable resilience. But their strength comes at a cost that cannot always be expected season after season. It is high time the country commits to its agricultural initiatives long-term. Only then can Ghana’s agriculture transition from a cycle of hesitant renewal to a thriving, productive system for all.
In summary, the repeated failure of agricultural initiatives in Ghana is largely rooted in the political discontinuity that disrupts ongoing programs and policies. A push for an autonomous authority, robust data systems, and bipartisanship could provide the necessary framework for a more consistent and productive agricultural sector. Such changes are vital, as the resilience of Ghana’s farmers deserves better than the cycle of forgetting and redoing the same policies every time there is a change in leadership.
Original Source: www.newsghana.com.gh
