The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has called on Ghanaians to prioritize patronizing locally manufactured products to help create jobs for the youth and strengthen the country’s economy through private sector growth.
According to the Minister, Ghana’s continued dependence on imported food products is exporting employment opportunities to other countries while local producers and processors struggle to expand their operations.
Hon. Eric Opoku made the remarks during a working and familiarization visit to P & A African Food International Ltd on Friday, June 19, where he commended the company for investing in agro-processing and promoting African indigenous food products.
Addressing management and staff of the company, the Minister stressed that supporting made-in-Ghana goods is a collective responsibility that directly impacts national development and employment creation.
He revealed that Ghana spends nearly $3 billion annually on food imports, a situation he described as worrying, considering the country has the capacity to produce and process many of the products locally.
“If we are able to produce here and spend the $3 billion here in Ghana, that alone can create more than 10 million jobs for the people of our country,” he stated.
The Minister noted that many Ghanaians complain about unemployment while simultaneously choosing imported products over locally manufactured alternatives.
He argued that such decisions weaken local industries and deny businesses the opportunity to expand and employ more people.
“We have our brothers, sisters, siblings, and neighbours complaining about jobs, but when we go to the market, instead of buying products made in Ghana to support local processors, we prefer imported goods and end up creating jobs outside the country,” he said.
Hon. Opoku emphasized that national development should not be left to government alone, insisting that every Ghanaian has a role to play in building a stronger economy.
He explained that while government is focused on creating favourable policies and a conducive business environment, the private sector must also invest heavily in agriculture and agro-processing to drive economic growth.
The Minister praised young entrepreneurs venturing into agriculture and agro-processing, describing the sector as one of the greatest pathways to wealth creation.
“I am happy to see young people investing their resources in agriculture and agro-processing. You are moving into an area of wealth,” he remarked.
He challenged the long-held perception that agriculture is meant for poor or less privileged people, stating that in many advanced countries, some of the wealthiest individuals are heavily involved in agriculture.
Drawing from his international experiences, the Minister said agriculture should not be viewed narrowly as farming alone but as a complete value chain with enormous economic potential.
He referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s focus on agribusiness, explaining that the modern agricultural sector goes beyond cultivation to include storage, transportation, packaging, processing, and distribution.
According to him, every stage along the agricultural value chain creates employment opportunities for thousands of people.
“Agriculture goes beyond farming. After production, you look at storage, transportation, packaging, processing, and distribution until the food reaches the consumer. Along the chain, many jobs are created,” he explained.
The Minister further noted that investment in agriculture has a stronger economic multiplier effect compared to many other sectors.
He therefore encouraged more investment in agribusiness as a practical solution to youth unemployment in Ghana.
Using P & A African Food International Ltd as an example, Hon. Opoku disclosed that the company could directly employ about 200 people within a short period if given the needed support and resources.
He added that beyond the direct jobs, many others would benefit indirectly through distribution networks, transportation, retailing, and exports.
P & A African Food International Ltd specializes in the production, processing, and packaging of a wide range of African ethnic foods.
The company has built a reputation for quality and authenticity, positioning itself as one of the emerging players in Ghana’s agro-processing industry while promoting Africa’s rich culinary heritage.
By 1960news.com
