PR & COMMS UPDATES – MOTAI
The government’s commitment to empowering women in agribusiness as important forces behind Ghana’s economic transformation has been underlined by Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry.
Speaking on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the Brong Ahafo Women Co-operative Cocoa Farming and Marketing Central Union (BAWCOF) Annual Festival in Techiman, the Minister praised the organisation for its support of sustainable cocoa production and women’s empowerment under the theme “Nourishing Women, Cultivating Lives.”
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare praised BAWCOF’s accomplishments since its founding in 2021, pointing out that the Union has strengthened the involvement of nearly 7,000 rural women cocoa farmers in nine cocoa districts in cooperative marketing, leadership, and sustainable farming.
She claimed that the government’s decision to restructure her Ministry to include Agribusiness and Industry demonstrates its commitment to fostering industrial ties and strengthening value chains that increase output and create jobs.
The Minister revealed that the government is putting strategic interventions into place, like the Feed the Industry Programme, which links smallholder farmers, particularly women, directly to agro-processors through structured contract arrangements in an effort to increase factory capacity utilisation from 30–40% to 70–80%.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare listed both short- and long-term strategies to boost agribusiness growth, such as value-chain financing programs under GIRSAL, tax breaks on agro-processing equipment to entice investment, and assistance for regional machinery manufacturing through the GRATIS Foundation and the Rural Enterprise Program.
She went on to say that the government could make around USD 900 million a year in the fruits and vegetables industry by investing in cold-chain infrastructure.
She added that in order to integrate value chains, encourage inclusivity, and guarantee that the opinions of female farmers and agribusiness owners are at the forefront of policy choices, the Ministry is spearheading the creation of a national agribusiness policy.
During her visit, the Minister also praised the inventiveness and originality of female entrepreneurs and saw an exhibition of agriculture products.
She also gave the women’s cooking competition winners awards, citing their accomplishments as an example of Ghanaian women’s ability to add value from the land to the table.
In addition to attending the event, Hon. Eric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, praised women for their critical role in Ghana’s agricultural sector, pointing out that they make up 90% of the workforce in processing and marketing, 52% of the agricultural labour force, and 70% of the nation’s food production.
He gave GH₵40,000 to boost BAWCOF’s operations and commended them for advocating for the welfare of female cocoa producers. Hon. Opoku reaffirmed the importance of value addition and emphasised that in order to guarantee that farmers receive the full benefits of their produce, agribusiness integration into the Trade Ministry was essential.
In order to commemorate advancements and investigate fresh prospects for expansion and sustainability, the festival brought together hundreds of women farmers, traditional leaders, cooperatives, and stakeholders from all points along the chocolate value chain.
Source: newsthemegh.com