On Friday, 5 December 2025, Ghana held its 41st National Farmers’ Day celebration at the Ho Sports Stadium, in the Volta Region. The national gathering brought together farmers, fishers, agripreneurs, government officials, and stakeholders from across the country to honour the backbone of Ghana’s food system and economy.
This year’s celebration ran under the theme: “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future”, a call to deepen domestic production, encourage consumption of locally-grown food, and strengthen national food security.
Agricultural Fair Opens the Celebrations
The Farmers’ Day week began on Monday, 1 December 2025, with the official launch of a five-day national agricultural fair at the Ho Sports Stadium. The fair features exhibitions of innovations in crops, livestock, fisheries, irrigation, mechanisation, value addition, and digital agriculture — underscoring the government’s push for a modernized, commercial, and sustainable agricultural sector.
At the opening, the Volta Region’s representative on the Council of State, Gabriel Kwamigah Tanko Atokple, commended the government and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for investing in the sector and urged the youth to view agribusiness as a viable path.
Minister of Food and Agriculture: Government’s Renewed Agricultural Agenda
Speaking at the launch of the 41st edition in Accra, Minister Eric Opoku announced that Ho was selected to host this year’s Grand Durbar because of the Volta Region’s rich agricultural heritage — symbolic of the region’s contribution to national food security and Ghana’s commitment to equitable regional development.
He explained that the theme “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future” reflects a national aspiration: to reduce import dependence, strengthen domestic food systems, and create sustainable jobs across the agricultural value chain. The Minister also called on corporate bodies, development partners, and philanthropists to support the event and invest in Ghana’s agriculture.
He further thanked the private sector partners and stakeholders whose collaboration made the Agricultural Fair possible, noting the fair as “a practical demonstration of progress toward transforming agriculture into a vibrant, commercial and technology-driven enterprise.”
President Mahama Honors Farmers — And Issues Strong Warnings on Food Imports
At the Grand Durbar and Awards Ceremony in Ho, President John Dramani Mahama presented awards to outstanding farmers, recognizing their contribution to Ghana’s food security and rural economies. Among the honourees was the 82-year-old Opanyin Abraham Kwaku Adusei, who was named the Overall National Best Farmer for 2025.
In his keynote address, President Mahama challenged the outdated perception that agriculture is only for rural folks. He urged professionals — including teachers, civil servants, and private-sector workers — to see farming as a viable supplementary or full-time venture. “You can work and still be a farmer,” he declared.
He also sounded a caution on Ghana’s rising food import bills. According to reports, the President described the current spending on imported food as “unsustainable,” signalling that Ghana must ramp up domestic production to feed its growing population — and reduce reliance on external sources.
Moreover, President Mahama pointed out the barrier high-interest loans pose to farmers’ growth. He stressed the need for affordable credit at single-digit rates to enable farmers to invest in modern tools, expand farms, and truly benefit economically from their labour — rather than having profits swallowed up by bank repayments.
He further pledged continued infrastructure development, highlighting that many of the roads awarded under the “Big Push” programme have gone to the Volta Region — improving access to markets, lowering transport costs for produce, and enhancing economic activity in farming communities.
What the 2025 Celebration Means for Ghana’s Agricultural Future
The 2025 Farmers’ Day in Ho was more than a symbolic event: it was a clear signal that Ghana is doubling down on agricultural transformation. With a national fair showcasing innovations, awards recognizing exemplary farmers, and high-level commitment from government leaders — the tone was set for agriculture to remain at the heart of Ghana’s development agenda.
Under the combined weight of speeches by the Minister of Food and Agriculture and the President, three central priorities emerged:
- Promote local production and consumption — reduce import dependence through “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana”
- Encourage professionalism and diversification — open agriculture to professionals and entrepreneurs beyond rural farming
- Provide supportive infrastructure and financial mechanisms — ensure affordable credit, transport infrastructure and value-chain support to make farming profitable
By placing the spotlight on both small-scale and commercial farmers from all parts of the country, the 2025 celebration reaffirmed that agriculture is a national enterprise — not just a rural activity. For many young people and urban dwellers, President Mahama’s call may well open the door to seeing agriculture as a realistic livelihood path.
Closing Thoughts
The 41st National Farmers’ Day celebration in Ho on 5 December 2025 will likely be remembered as one of the most consequential in recent years. Between the national agricultural fair, bold pronouncements from leadership, and awards celebrating dedicated farmers, the event sent a strong message: Ghana is committed to building a self-reliant, resilient and modern agricultural sector.
As the flashbulbs fade at the stadium and the awards are packed away, the real work begins. The success of this year’s celebration will ultimately rest on translating promise into policy, ambition into implementation — and ensuring that the farmers, fishers, and agripreneurs honoured today become the engines of Ghana’s agricultural renaissance tomorrow.
Sources: Citinews, Graphic online, Volta star