The Deputy Greater Accra Regional Minister has reiterated government’s stance on the importance of the agricultural sector to Ghana’s economy.
She says the agricultural sector has over the years, regardless of the government in power, remained a major contributor to the country’s economy.
According to Elizabeth Sackey, the Akufo-Addo-led administration through the Agricultural ministry and other related ministries and agencies has improved the productivity in the Agric sector, maintaining it as the anchor of the nation’s economy.
The agriculture sector in Ghana contributes about 54 per cent of the country’s GDP and accounts for over 40 per cent of export earnings. It also provides 90 per cent of food needs of the country.
This is contained in a report filed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN.
Mrs Sackey in her address touted some measures the Akufo-Addo led government has put in place to maintain the sector as the leading contributor to the nation’s economy, as well as, achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2.
“Fighting hunger requires everyone to do their part, therefore, permit me to use this platform to reiterate that government acknowledges the fact that Agriculture continues to be the anchor of the country’s economy, employing more than half of our workforce,” she said.
Highlighting some specific efforts spearheaded by President Akufo-Addo in maintaining the productivity in the sector, she said the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, Rearing for Food and Jobs are but a few of the several interventions.
“It is not by accident that government has introduced agricultural interventions such as Planting for Food and Jobs, Rearing for Food and Jobs, One-District-One-Dam, Planting for Exports, just to mention a few. All geared towards achieving this goal.”
The Minister was speaking at the celebration of the World Food Day at the forecourt of the State House in Accra, October 16, 2019.
The theme for this year’s celebration was ‘Healthy Diets for a #ZeroHunger World.