Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has highlighted major achievements under the government’s Feed Ghana Programme – an initiative introduced by the Mahama administration to modernize agriculture, strengthen food security, create jobs, and reduce reliance on imported food.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, November 24, the Minister outlined several interventions implemented over the past nine months to boost productivity and transform the sector.
According to Mr. Opoku, the programme has so far resulted in the construction of 10 new small dams and the rehabilitation of eight existing irrigation dams. Additionally, 250 solar-powered boreholes have been installed in farming communities and second-cycle schools across the five northern regions, as well as in the Bono and Ahafo regions.
He added that rehabilitation works are ongoing on several major irrigation projects, including the 850-hectare Vea Irrigation Scheme in Bolgatanga and Bongo, the 880-hectare Weta Irrigation Scheme in Ketu North, and the 100-hectare Tanoso Irrigation Scheme in the Techiman Municipality of Bono East. Similar upgrades are being carried out on the 930-hectare Kpong scheme in Shai Osudoku and Lower Manya, the 200-hectare Ashaiman scheme, and the 245-hectare Aveyime scheme in the Volta Region.
Mr. Opoku reported that 25 of 35 planned solar-powered boreholes have been completed, with the remaining 10 expected by the first quarter of 2026. Another 44 are being constructed for selected districts in northern Ghana.
He also revealed that work has started on developing new inland valleys to boost rice production. These include the 175-hectare Anunuso Inland Valley (serving Anunuso, Brofoyedu, Nkwawkwanua and Awaham), the 150-hectare Atonsu Inland Valley (Atonsu and Abramaso), and the 647-hectare Kawampe Inland Valley covering nine communities in the Bono East Region. Other areas include the 114-hectare Odaho and Odamu valleys in Yaw Nkrumah and Donuaso, and the 114-hectare Waamu-Kumi valley in the Ashanti Region.
The Minister further announced that the Government of Ghana and the Korea Rural Cooperation (KRC) are developing irrigation facilities on 100 hectares of land to support rice seed cultivation. He reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to expanding irrigation infrastructure to enable year-round farming.
By 2027, he said, Ghana is expected to produce 10,000 tonnes of high-quality rice seed, moving the country significantly toward rice seed self-sufficiency.
Mr. Opoku also pointed to a steady decline in food inflation—from a peak of 61 per cent in January 2023 to 28.3 per cent in January 2025, and further down to 9.5 per cent in October 2025. He said these improvements reflect the positive impact of the Feed Ghana Programme and other agricultural reforms aimed at strengthening food production and building a resilient agricultural sector.
