The Deputy Agriculture Minister, Mr. Yaw Frimpong Addo, highlighted the government’s commitment to bolstering the agricultural sector during his address at the opening of the third edition of the Agritech West Africa exhibition, alongside Food & Beverage Ghana and FoodPack Tech Ghana exhibitions.
Emphasizing the importance of private sector involvement, Mr. Addo stressed the significance of creating opportunities for all stakeholders to thrive.
He stated, “We are trying to encourage the private sector so normally the private sector we say the bottom line is the profit so the private sector very smart private sector they will look at where the opportunities are we are creating the opportunities for everybody to produce.”
Touching upon the core focus areas, Mr. Addo underscored the pivotal role of processing and technology in driving agricultural growth. He elucidated, “The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is so much interested in such exhibitions because we are in an era of technology and another big area that we want to promote is processing because these are two areas that inform agricultural growth in this country apart from credit which is the mother of all the challenges.”
Moreover, Mr. Addo highlighted the significance of exhibitions like Agritech West Africa in facilitating comprehensive solutions for challenges faced by farmers. He expressed, “Exhibitions like that bring a lot of stakeholders at a one-stop shop. The ministry is very interested in it because whatever they are doing here dovetails directly into the plant for food and jobs too.”
Echoing the sentiment, Mr. Addo stressed the importance of processing facilities closer to the source of agricultural produce to enhance efficiency and reduce logistical challenges. He asserted, “We are not talking of the giant multinational companies here we are talking about small and medium enterprises processing companies that can establish directly where the farm produce are available instead of transporting them from let’s say Yendi to Accra before you process.”
Furthermore, Mr. Addo encouraged young entrepreneurs to leverage initiatives like the Mastercard Foundation to establish small and medium-scale processing facilities.
Addressing investor concerns, Mr. Addo emphasized Ghana’s favorable investment climate, citing factors such as geographical centrality, security, and robust legal frameworks. He affirmed, “The kind of security that we have in this country, peace and security, is something that maybe because we’ve not gone to war before we underestimate the value of this. The peace that we are enjoying here, it’s all good.”
The Agritech West Africa exhibition, coupled with Food & Beverage Ghana and FoodPack Tech Ghana exhibitions, serves as a pivotal platform for stakeholders to converge, exchange ideas, and forge impactful collaborations. With robust support from key entities and a focus on innovation and partnership-building, the expo is poised to catalyze transformative growth in the agricultural and food processing sectors in Ghana and beyond.
Under the patronage of the Ministry of Food & Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade & Industry, the third edition of the Agritech West Africa exhibition, along with Food & Beverage Ghana and FoodPack Tech Ghana exhibitions, kicked off at the Accra International Conference Center on March 19, 2024.
The expo, organized by Wegvoraus Exhibitions, enjoys robust support from key entities such as the West African Chamber of Agriculture (WACOA) and various industry associations. It serves as a vital platform for global companies to engage with local stakeholders, facilitating discussions on innovation, technology transfer, and market access.
Reflecting on the event’s significance, Mr. Addo concluded, “It’s such exhibitions that shed more light on whatever we are doing as a ministry.” With a focus on fostering partnerships, driving innovation, and promoting inclusive growth, the Agritech West Africa exhibition stands as a beacon of progress in Ghana’s agricultural landscape.
