By King Amoah
Ghana stands at a crossroads where the path to sustainable economic prosperity is not paved by urban industrialization alone but by the untapped potential of its soil.
According to Mr. Kwaku Boahene popularly known as Osofo Kwaku, Chairman of the Cocoa and Cashew Farmers Association of Jinijini in the Berekum West District of the Bono Region, the nation’s economic salvation lies in rebranding agriculture as a lucrative venture for the youth.
The Migration Crisis IsA Symptom of Agricultural Neglect:
Osofo Kwaku expressed deep concern about the current trend of “useless traveling,” where desperate young Ghanaians risk their lives on perilous journeys to foreign lands in search of non existent white collar jobs.
He stressed that this exodus is a direct consequence of the persistent neglect of the agricultural sector
Osofo Kwaku stated in an interview during the launch of his Association.
He highlights that when farming is perceived as a struggle characterized by high labor costs and the lack of a ready market it ceases to be an attractive career choice for the youth.
A Recipe for Economic Growth:
For the agricultural sector to become the engine of Ghana’s economic growth the Chairman proposes a three pronged approach that the government must adopt to induce youth participation:
Access to Affordable Credit: High interest rates on loans have crippled many farming initiatives.
Osofo Kwaku strongly advocates for soft loans with reasonable interest rates to enable young farmers to purchase modern equipment and expand their operations
Guaranteed Markets and Fair Pricing: Osofo Kwaku narrated that one of the most frustrations for Ghanaian farmers is the inability to find a ready market for their harvest at attractive prices.
He noted that establishing a structured market system would ensure that farmers efforts are rewarded to make agriculture a predictable and profitable business.
Modernizing the Sector:
The farmer insisted that to move agriculture from a subsistence activity to a commercial powerhouse, government must provide the necessary facilities and technology to enhance productivity.
From Unemployment to Abundance:
Osofo Kwaku believes that if these conditions are met, the dual problem of youth unemployment and food insecurity will be solved simultaneously.
Adding that when we provide the necessary facilities we don’t just curb the migration crisis rather we produce food in abundance to feed our population with the enough surplus to export and generate foreign exchange for the country.
A Call to Action:
He said the current state of farming which is marked by the “canker” of systemic challenges is discouraging.
However it is not too late to reverse the trend. Osofo Kwaku’s appeal to the government is a clarion call to prioritize the agricultural sector as a matter of national security and economic urgency.
By investing in the youth and addressing the structural barriers in the cocoa and cashew industries, Ghana can transform its economic landscape.
