The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has participated in a high-level global policy dialogue on job creation in Africa held in Rome, Italy.

The forum, organised under the Mattei Plan for Africa in collaboration with the World Bank Group and Banca d’Italia, was held under the theme “Laying the Groundwork for Jobs in Africa: Core Infrastructure & Business Environment.”

The summit brought together global leaders, policymakers and development partners to discuss strategies for accelerating economic growth and creating sustainable employment opportunities across the African continent.

Among the distinguished participants were the President of the World Bank Group, the Chief Executive Officer of Banca d’Italia, the President of Singapore, the Prime Minister of Italy, Chief Executive Officer of Bemol Denis Minev, and the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Alvaro Lario.

Speaking during the panel discussion, Hon. Eric Opoku highlighted the central role agriculture plays in Ghana’s economy and the government’s efforts to transform the sector into a major driver of employment and industrial growth.

He noted that agriculture contributes nearly 30 percent of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs about 24 percent of the country’s workforce, with most rural households engaged in farming.

However, he explained that for many years the sector operated largely as a low-productivity, informal and smallholder-dominated activity, limiting its potential to generate sustainable jobs for the growing youth population.

According to the Minister, Ghana records about 160,000 young people entering the labour market each year, making it imperative for the country to modernize its agricultural sector to create employment opportunities.

“To generate sustained and productive jobs, we must transition from the traditional smallholder model to one that integrates large-scale production, value addition and agribusiness development,” he stated.

Hon. Opoku said the Government of Ghana has therefore launched the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, a comprehensive policy framework aimed at modernizing agriculture and supporting industrialization.

He explained that the agenda is being implemented through the Feed Ghana Programme, which seeks to increase food production to meet domestic consumption while also supplying raw materials to agro-processing industries.

The programme is complemented by 24-Hour Economy Policy, which the Minister said would create sustained demand for agricultural raw materials by expanding industrial activity and processing capacity.

“Our strategy is simple,” he noted. “When farmers have access to inputs, markets and infrastructure, they invest more in production because every rational producer produces in anticipation of the market. When producers see reliable demand, they expand their operations and employment multiplies across the agricultural value chain.”

The Minister stressed that Ghana is deliberately moving from farming as a livelihood activity to farming as a business and agribusiness enterprise, while strengthening the link between agriculture and industry.

He also outlined several strategic interventions being implemented by the government to support agricultural transformation.

These include expanding irrigation and water management systems to transition farming from rain-fed production to year-round irrigation agriculture, which will enable farmers to supply raw materials consistently to agro-processing industries.

The government is also investing in agricultural roads, with a commitment to construct 1,000 kilometres of farm roads to improve access to markets, reduce transportation costs and minimise post-harvest losses.

Another key intervention, he said, is strengthening national food storage systems through the National Food Buffer Stock Company, which purchases excess produce from farmers during peak harvest seasons and releases the stock during periods of scarcity.

“This approach protects farmers when production is high and also protects consumers during lean seasons,” he explained.

Additionally, the government is establishing Farmer Service Centres across agricultural districts to provide farmers with access to mechanisation services, including tractors, combine harvesters and other essential equipment that smallholder farmers may not be able to afford individually.

Hon. Opoku further emphasised the importance of financing in accelerating agricultural transformation.

“When finance is available, farmers are more willing to invest in technology and processes, upgrade their equipment and improve productivity. As this happens, jobs will grow, capital will flow and stronger institutions will emerge,” he said.

He added that once institutions are strengthened, economic systems can be accelerated to generate even more employment opportunities.

The Minister concluded by stressing that transforming food systems requires a multi-sectoral approach, involving investments in infrastructure, energy, agriculture and industrial development.

“There is common ground, but there is no single solution,” he noted. “Food systems are complex and require coordinated action across many sectors to address the challenges and unlock opportunities.”

The Rome summit forms part of broader international efforts to mobilize investment and partnerships aimed at driving sustainable development and job creation across Africa.