Agric Minister To 506 Feed Ghana Coordinators: Go And Serve, Not Lord Over The People

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku (MP), has urged 506 newly deployed District Feed Ghana Coordinators to lead with humility and service, warning them against assuming authority over existing district agricultural officers as they begin work under the government’s flagship Feed Ghana Programme.

Speaking at the passing-out ceremony of the Feed Ghana Brigade in Accra, Mr. Opoku said the coordinators are being sent to strengthen, not replace, the Ministry’s established structures at the district level.

“Go As Servants, Not Bosses”

Addressing the graduates, the Minister was emphatic that the success of the programme will depend on respect for the existing chain of command and collaboration with technical staff already on the ground.

“Do not go to the districts as bosses. Go as servants to the people. Go to strengthen the existing system, not to replace it. Go to support your District Directors, extension officers and other technical staff in delivering the objectives of the Feed Ghana Programme efficiently, professionally and harmoniously,” he charged.

Mr. Opoku made it clear that every District Feed Ghana Coordinator must operate under the administrative leadership of the respective District Director of Agriculture.

“I expect every coordinator to respect that authority and work within the established chain of command,” he said. “The District Director of Agriculture remains the head of the Ministry’s operations at the district level.”

He cautioned against rivalry and duplication of roles, adding that competition would only weaken service delivery to farmers.

“Success will come through cooperation, not competition; coordination, not duplication; and teamwork, not parallel structures,” the Minister stated.

Measuring Success In The Fields, Not In Accra

Touching on the broader goals of the Feed Ghana Programme, Mr. Opoku said its impact will not be judged by policy announcements in the capital, but by tangible results in farming communities.

He said the programme’s effectiveness will be measured by the number of farmers reached, acreage cultivated, increase in food production, number of young people attracted to agriculture, support for women, strengthening of agricultural value chains, and renewed confidence in the sector.

“Agriculture is the foundation of every serious economy,” Mr. Opoku noted. “No nation can attain genuine independence if it cannot feed its people.”

He described a strong agricultural sector as indispensable to sustainable industrialisation, economic growth and job creation. According to him, no country can build a resilient economy while neglecting farmers, processors, transporters, traders and agribusiness entrepreneurs.

The Minister further linked the initiative to President John Dramani Mahama’s broader vision, saying agriculture is being positioned as a comprehensive strategy to stimulate economic growth, strengthen national security, create employment, drive industrialisation, and restore hope to young people willing to venture into farming.

“Feed Ghana is about more than food production. It is about building an economy that works for everyone from the farm to the factory,” he added.

506 Graduates Ready For Deployment

The 506 graduates who make up the latest cohort of the Feed Ghana Brigade have completed a three-week intensive training programme. They are expected to be deployed across districts nationwide to support implementation of the programme by working directly with district agricultural authorities and farming communities.

National Coordinator of the Feed Ghana Programme, Bright Demordzi, expressed confidence in the readiness of the new brigades. He said the training, organized in collaboration with the Ghana Police Training School and the Ministry’s Directorate of Agricultural Extension Services, covered technical agricultural knowledge as well as leadership, ethics, discipline, teamwork, communication, conflict resolution, physical fitness and patriotism.

“The Brigades have demonstrated the competence, discipline and commitment required to work alongside Agricultural Extension Officers in supporting farmers and ensuring the successful implementation of the Feed Ghana Programme,” Mr. Demordzi said.

He urged the graduates to uphold professionalism, integrity and humility, respect their supervisors, collaborate effectively with regional and district agricultural authorities, and remain dedicated to serving farming communities.

“The commitment of the newly deployed Brigades will play a vital role in advancing the objectives of the Feed Ghana Programme, improving agricultural productivity and contributing to Ghana’s food security and economic growth,” he added.

A Call For Dedication

In his closing remarks, Minister Opoku encouraged the coordinators to demonstrate dedication and integrity as they assume duty.

“I am confident that your contribution will be instrumental in achieving the goals of the Feed Ghana Programme and transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector,” he said.

With deployment set to begin immediately, the Ministry says the coordinators will serve as the bridge between policy and practice — taking government’s agricultural agenda directly to farmers and ensuring that support reaches those who need it most.