The Ghana Horticulture Expo 2025 opened in grand style at the Accra International Conference Centre on Wednesday, drawing together key industry stakeholders under the theme “Innovate, Transform, Sustain: Driving Growth in Ghana’s Horticultural Sector.”

The event, which marks the second edition of the Expo, was graced by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, alongside prominent figures including the Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry,  Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Food and Agriculture,  Eric Opoku, and the Chairman of the event, Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson.

The gathering featured CEOs from GEPA, Exim Bank, and Fidelity Bank, as well as delegations from across Africa, academia, civil society, and Ghana’s burgeoning agribusiness community.

In a powerful welcome address, President of the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), Davies Narh Korboe, emphasised that horticulture is not merely about fruits and vegetables, but a cornerstone of Ghana’s future.

“We are not just here to sell fruits—we are here to build futures,” he declared.

The 2025 Expo builds on the foundation of its maiden edition in 2024, showcasing significant advancements in technology, policy, and financing aimed at transforming Ghana’s green economy.

It highlights innovations such as drip irrigation, solar-powered cold storage, blockchain traceability systems, and youth-friendly agribusiness financing models.

A key highlight of the event was the strong endorsement of the 24-Hour Economy policy, with the horticulture sector positioned as a prime beneficiary.

“Imagine a Ghana where irrigation pumps hum through the night, where agro-processing plants run in shifts, and where fresh produce is transported and exported around the clock.

This is not a fantasy—it is within reach,” he told participants.

The Expo also spotlighted the urgent need to boost productivity and reduce post-harvest losses, which still account for over 30% of total horticultural output.

He challenged stakeholders to rise to the opportunity presented by a global horticulture market projected to exceed USD 320 billion by 2030.

“Why not Ghana? Why not now?” he asked the audience.

Personal stories were woven into the narrative, highlighting a woman farmer in Berekum, a young entrepreneur in Buipe, and an aspiring horticulturist in Keta—underscoring the human impact of the Expo’s mission.

He lauded President Mahama for his visionary leadership and recent interventions, including efforts to revamp the Buipe Shea Nut Processing Factory.

GEPA reports that shea has become Ghana’s 10th highest foreign exchange earner, with the Tamale-based Nuts for Growth factory now exporting over 23,000 metric tons of high-grade shea butter annually.

He extended commendations to the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, for facilitating private-sector led export growth through the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture.

Mr. Sylvester Mensah, CEO of Exim Bank, was praised for redefining export finance, and the CEO of GEPA was applauded for revitalising Ghana’s export landscape through strategic innovation.

A significant announcement at the Expo was the rollout of the first intervention under the 8-priority horticultural value chains, a joint initiative led by the Office of the Chief of Staff in collaboration with the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Exim Bank.

In a stirring conclusion, he called on banks to shift from rigid collateral-based models to visionary partnerships with agripreneurs.

“Banking must be about nurturing the seed, not just guarding the vault.

Let’s bank on ideas, not just assets,” he added.

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