Ghana marked National Farmers Day with a stirring message of gratitude and a call to action as former Tourism Minister and Tourism Brand Ambassador for Africa, Hon. Catherine A. Afeku, paid powerful homage to the nation’s “gallant farmers, fishermen, and livestock rearers” whose labour sustains both kitchen tables and the national economy.
Speaking with the warmth of a daughter of the soil and the urgency of an advocate, Afeku celebrated the people who rise before the sun, coax harvests from dry earth, cast nets through unpredictable seas, and tend livestock through the harshest of seasons. “You are the pillars of our nation’s sustenance,” she declared, acknowledging the daily battles farmers face and the high cost of producing food in a warming, volatile world.
In a notable tribute, Afeku turned the spotlight on Ghana’s women farmers, often the invisible backbone of rural economies.
“To our gallant women farmers who feed the nation and the nuclear family, we cherish and honour you,” she said, recognising their extraordinary role in food production, household nutrition, and agricultural resilience.
Ghana’s agricultural sector, which employs more than a third of the population, continues to wrestle with erratic rainfall, rising input costs and limited mechanisation. Afeku used the platform to push for what many in the sector have long demanded:
- Affordable financing tailored to smallholder needs
- Modern tools and mechanised systems that reduce drudgery and boost efficiency
- Irrigation infrastructure to break free from rain-dependent farming
- Better roads and market access to reduce post-harvest losses, and
- Training and technology adoption to increase yields and incomes
Her message echoed the growing view across Africa that agriculture must evolve — not just to feed nations, but to anchor economies and withstand climate shocks.
The former Minister also saluted this year’s Farmers Day awardees, including the newly crowned National Best Farmer, celebrating their innovation and discipline.
“May your success inspire others to strive for excellence,” she said, adding that their achievements reveal the boundless potential of Ghanaian agriculture when farmers are empowered.
For agricultural workers across the country, the message was clear: Ghana sees you, Ghana honours you, and Ghana’s future depends on you.
Story: Kakale Adams
