Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has reaffirmed her Ministry’s commitment to Ghana’s agro-industrial development by participating in the National Agribusiness Dialogue 2025 held in Accra.
The high-level forum, organised by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry in collaboration with Agri-Impact Limited and development partners, was held under the theme “Resetting Agribusiness for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Growth.” It brought together over 250 stakeholders from government, private sector, civil society, academia, and development institutions.
The Dialogue was officially opened by the President of the Republic, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, who delivered the keynote address. He emphasised the need to reverse Ghana’s over-reliance on food imports—currently valued at over $2 billion annually by promoting local production, agro-processing, and exports. He described the Dialogue as a strategic platform to shape policies and investment frameworks for a competitive agribusiness sector.
Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah’s participation highlighted the essential role of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs in supporting the localisation of agribusiness policies through decentralised development structures. Her presence underscored the Ministry’s role in facilitating grassroots adoption of national strategies aimed at food security, rural transformation, and inclusive industrial growth.
The event featured plenaries, thematic breakout sessions, and fireside chats focused on key areas such as agricultural financing, value chain development, environmental sustainability, policy coherence, and inclusive participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Outcomes from the Dialogue are expected to feed into the development and implementation of the forthcoming National Agribusiness and Agro-Industry Policy (NAAP), aimed at accelerating Ghana’s transition to a resilient, inclusive, and self-sustaining agribusiness economy.
Source: Stephanie Edem Klutsey
(Public Relations Unit MLGCRA)