Ghana Launches AgriConnect Compact to Create 2.6m Jobs
Ghana has signed a major $1.5 billion AgriConnect Compact with the World Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and other development partners, in what officials describe as one of the country’s most ambitious agricultural transformation programmes in recent years.
The agreement is projected to create more than 2.6 million jobs over the next five years, while accelerating investments across the agricultural value chain, improving food security, and strengthening agribusiness development nationwide.
The compact is expected to support interventions spanning production, irrigation development, agro-processing, storage infrastructure, logistics systems, and improved market access, alongside the promotion of climate-smart and technology-driven farming practices.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, described the initiative as a significant milestone in government’s efforts to modernise agriculture and reposition it as a key driver of national economic growth.
According to him, the programme will unlock new opportunities for farmers, agribusiness operators, and young people entering the agricultural space, while also contributing to efforts aimed at reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported food commodities.
“This compact represents a new chapter for Ghana’s agriculture sector,” Mr. Opoku said. “It brings together strategic partners and the resources needed to transform agriculture into a major source of jobs, income, and economic growth.”
He added that the initiative aligns with government’s broader policy direction of building a resilient and competitive agricultural sector capable of meeting domestic food demand, improving rural livelihoods, and expanding export potential over time.
The Minister further stressed that agricultural transformation under the compact will not focus solely on increasing production, but also on strengthening the entire value chain to ensure efficiency, value addition, and sustainability.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) emphasised the importance of private sector participation in achieving the objectives of the agreement. IFC Division Director for West Africa, Nathalie Kouassi Akon, said attracting private capital and technical expertise would be essential to scaling up productivity and building stronger, more efficient agricultural systems.
“Agriculture presents enormous opportunities for investment and job creation,” she noted. “Through this partnership, we aim to help attract the capital and expertise needed to unlock the sector’s full potential.”
IFAD Country Director for Ghana, Lakshmi Moola, also underscored the importance of ensuring that smallholder farmers remain at the centre of the transformation agenda. She said inclusive agricultural development is critical to improving rural incomes and strengthening resilience against climate-related shocks.
The AgriConnect Compact is expected to serve as a platform for coordinated investment in Ghana’s agricultural sector, combining public sector leadership with private sector financing and development partner support.
Officials say the programme could become a catalyst for broad-based economic growth, positioning agriculture as a major engine of employment creation, food security, and long-term economic transformation over the next five years.
