Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, has blown an alarm on the John Mahama government’s lack of investment in Ghana’s agriculture sector.
According to Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Mahama government is neglecting agriculture and is only focusing on gold for reserves.
The minority leader warned that government policies favouring gold for reserves over farming threaten Ghana’s long-term food security.
Afenyo-Markin asserted that agriculture has received attention in policy discussions, but not adequate financial support for farmers.
Speaking during discussions with the World Bank, Afenyo-Markin stated, “We look at the 2025 budget and the 2026 budget, we like the ambition of the agriculture minister, but so much less is being invested in agriculture, and it appears the government is so much into this goldboard thing, using gold for reserves to stabilise our currency and all”.
“The bubble cannot be sustained if our farmers do not get the proper price for their produce,” he said.
In related news, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has called out the Minister of Agriculture, Eric Opoku, to tell Ghanaians what he has achieved since assuming office.
Afenyo-Markin recounted that Eric Opoku, in opposition, used to portray the Akufo-Addo government as ineffective.
He, however, acknowledged Eric Opoku’s intelligence but highlighted that he has failed to introduce any concrete policies to improve Ghana’s agricultural sector.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the Agric Minister must convene a press conference and highlight his achievements since assuming office.
Speaking at a conference on Monday, January 27, 2026. Afenyo-Markin stated, “So, for agriculture, let me ask our respected colleague Eric Opoku. He is a very intelligent parliamentarian. I don’t doubt his understanding of the agro sector, but talk is cheap. It is not about his talking.
Today I want to ask my respected colleague, Honourable Eric Opoku, the minister responsible for agriculture, to hold a press conference and tell Ghanaians the real policies that have been introduced to help promote agriculture,” Afenyo-Markin said.
He added: “There is none in the fisheries sector. The less said about them, the better. So really, this government talks so much in opposition, but in government, there is nothing they’ve done in the agro and fisheries sectors to promote growth. And we see it in that field.”
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama, during last year’s 41st National Farmers’ Day Celebration in Ho on Friday, December 5, told all Ghanaians to venture into agriculture as an additional source of income.
President John Dramani Mahama has told all Ghanaians to venture into agriculture as an additional source of income.
Speaking at the 41st National Farmers’ Day Celebration in Ho on Friday, December 5, President Mahama encouraged Ghanaians, especially those in formal employment, to consider farming, adding that farming is only for “village folks”.
According to John Mahama, adopting farming as a secondary venture would boost personal earnings and also strengthen national food security, which would reduce Ghana’s importation.
President Mahama stated, “Agriculture isn’t only for the village folks,” he said. “You can work and still be a farmer. Teachers and civil servants can go to work and have farms, and the money from the farm can supplement their incomes.”
He further added that the government’s efforts to stabilise food prices are producing strong results.
“Food inflation stood at 28.3%. Through targeted interventions and careful management of food systems, I am pleased to report that food inflation has decreased significantly to 9.5% by October 2025. This is a notable improvement from the 22.8% recorded at exactly the same time last year,” he stated.
President Mahama also announced that the government will take aggressive measures to reduce interest rates on agriculture.
“The capital and credit facility that is available to our farmers is at such an interest rate that when a farmer is able to access it, they would be working for the bank and not themselves,” the President said
He stated, “One of our prime objectives is to get credit to our farmers at the best possible rate. We will be working towards a single-digit interest rate”.
“I agree that credit for agriculture must be at a single-digit interest rate. So this government is going to work to bring that interest rate below 10% so that farmers can have access to cheaper credit to be able to produce more for us to feed ourselves,” he added.