The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) is calling on the government to avoid political interference in the rollout of the newly launched Feed Ghana Initiative.
According to the Association, political involvement in the distribution of agricultural inputs under the previous Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Programme—particularly in its second phase—significantly undermined the programme’s impact. They fear a repeat could jeopardize the success of the current initiative.
Launched on April 12, the Feed Ghana Programme is a flagship project under the government’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda. It aims to create jobs, reduce food inflation, and stimulate agro-industrial development across the country.
Unlike the previous PFJ Programme, which shifted from input subsidies to a smart input credit system linked to structured markets, the Feed Ghana Initiative promises a more integrated and market-oriented approach to farming.
To ensure its success, PFAG Executive Director Bismark Nortey is urging the government to leave implementation in the hands of agricultural professionals at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
“Now that we’ve transitioned from PFJ to Feed Ghana, we must avoid the mistakes of the past. Political interference must be completely ruled out,” Nortey said. “MoFA has competent technical staff at the national, regional, and district levels who are capable of managing this programme effectively. Let’s allow them to lead. Politicians should take a step back.”
PFAG believes that empowering technical experts rather than political appointees is key to ensuring the sustainability and success of agricultural policies in Ghana.