President Mahama calls for deliberate investment in local agricultural machinery production
President John Dramani Mahama has called for deliberate investment in local agricultural machinery production, stressing that Ghana’s agricultural transformation depends on building strong domestic technological capacity.
Speaking at the opening of the Ghana Agrotech Fair 2026, President Mahama emphasized that reliance on imported machinery and technology is unsustainable for the country’s long-term agricultural and economic growth.
“No nation can transform its agricultural economy while indefinitely depending on imported machinery, processing lines and technological systems at every stage of production,” he said.
He highlighted the importance of supporting Ghanaian manufacturers of agricultural machinery and agro-processing equipment, framing it not just as an industrial policy choice but as a strategic economic necessity.
“If Ghana is serious about agricultural transformation, we must deliberately build the capacity to design, fabricate, adapt, maintain and scale agricultural technologies locally,” President Mahama stated.
The President further explained that investing in local agritech manufacturing would strengthen Ghana’s industrial base, create skilled employment for young people, and reduce import dependence.
“When we support local agritech manufacturing, we are retaining greater value within our national economy, and importantly, it positions Ghana not only as a consumer of agricultural technology, but as a producer and exporter of it across the African continent,” he said.
President Mahama also linked local technology development to broader agricultural modernization and economic transformation efforts, noting that the future of agriculture lies in modernizing the entire value chain—from production to processing, logistics, and global marketing.
“The future of agriculture must move beyond expanding acreage; it must be powered by technology, innovation, and value addition across every stage of the agricultural value chain,” he added.
The President’s call comes as Ghana continues to implement programs such as the Feed Ghana Programme, Modernising Agriculture in Ghana (MAG), and the Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP), which aim to boost productivity, agro-processing, and rural enterprise development.
Mahama urged all stakeholders—farmers, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and young professionals—to play their part in transforming Ghana into a hub for agricultural innovation.
“To our entrepreneurs and manufacturers, continue to build and scale solutions made in Ghana, for Africa. And to our young people, agriculture is not a sector of the past—it is one of the frontiers of our future,” he said.
The Ghana Agrotech Fair 2026 provides a platform to showcase these innovations and highlight the role of local technological capacity in driving sustainable agricultural transformation and positioning Ghana as a leader in agritech across Africa.
