Rotting Harvests, Broken Promises: Ghana’s Farmers Pay the Price of Politics

……. Decades of abandoned factories, unfulfilled policies, and wasted harvests leave farmers helpless and Ghana’s food security at risk

Ghana is blessed with fertile soil and hardworking farmers, yet across the country, harvests are turning into heartbreak. In Anloga, tomato farmers watch their labour rot under the sun as market prices collapse. A box that once sold for GH¢1,050 now barely fetches GH¢70 (Citi Newsroom, 2025).

Similarly, maize farmers in Sissala stare helplessly at mountains of harvested maize, while in Oti and Sunyani, yams, maize, and poultry slowly decay because there are no processing facilities to preserve them. Billions of cedis are spent importing what the nation already grows, showing that production alone cannot secure livelihoods or national food security.

To understand this dilemma, one must revisit the ambitions of Ghana’s past leaders. Kwame Nkrumah envisioned a country where farmers would not toil in vain, where crops would move seamlessly from fields to factories, and where industrialization would complement agricultural abundance.

State farms were established in Ohawu, Kpeve, Akatsi, and Akuse, supplying produce to industrial complexes. The Pomadze Poultry Farm produced layers and broilers, while the Nsawam Cannery processed tomatoes and pineapples. The Wenchi Tomato Factory handled vegetables, and the Bolgatanga Meat Processing Factory produced corned beef for local and export markets. Other facilities, such as Amrahia Dairy Farm, Juapong and Akosombo Textiles, the Kade Match Factory, and the Ghana Glass Factory, completed the agricultural-industrial ecosystem (GhanaWeb, 2016; Africa for Afrikans, 2016; The Ghana Report, 2025).

However, political instability and neglect gradually eroded this blueprint. While Nkrumah had successfully linked farmers to factories, many facilities fell into disrepair in subsequent decades.

General I.K. Acheampong’s Operation Feed Yourself (1972–1978) sought to make Ghana self-sufficient in food (Wikipedia, 2025). Although the program initially spurred production, inadequate processing, storage, and market access meant much of the excess produce went to waste. Later administrations, including Rawlings, Kufuor, Atta Mills, and Mahama, introduced policies such as liberalization, private-sector agribusiness support, irrigation development, Feed Ghana, and One District, One Factory (1D1F) (World Bank, 1990; FAO, 2005; Ghana Government, 2017). Yet farmers continue to face challenges as crops decay for lack of infrastructure.

In Sunyani, poultry and egg producers cannot store excess eggs beyond a few days, resulting in significant losses. The wider agricultural system remains heavily dependent on rainfall. Neglected irrigation schemes such as Afife, Dawenya, Tono, Vea, Kpong, and the White Volta Project leave farmers vulnerable to droughts and floods (Ministry of Food & Agriculture, Ghana, 2019). Without proper storage and cold-chain facilities, post-harvest losses threaten both livelihoods and national food security.

The scale of these losses is alarming. Across the country, 45 to 60 percent of fruits and vegetables never reach the market (FAO, 2011). Ghana spends over $3.25 billion annually on food imports (Ghana Statistical Service, 2023), while 70 percent of Nkrumah-era factories lie abandoned (Starr FM, 2025). Less than 30 percent of state farms remain operational.

These figures underline a harsh reality: policies cannot succeed without effective implementation, proper infrastructure, and continuity across administrations. Policymakers must therefore ask critical questions. Can idle factories be renovated instead of promising new ones? Can school feeding programs and other state procurement initiatives source exclusively from local farmers? How can climate risks be mitigated while ensuring that excess produce is processed and stored efficiently?

Recent initiatives such as Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ, 2017–2020s) have increased crop yields (Ministry of Food & Agriculture, 2020), and the 1D1F program promised factories in every district (Ghana Government, 2017). Additionally, the ongoing Feed Ghana / Reset Agenda (2025–) emphasizes value addition, Farmer Service Centres, and youth agribusiness. Despite these efforts, the gap between policy and implementation remains visible. Factories continue to lie idle, crops rot, and billions are spent importing what Ghana already grows.

To address these challenges, practical steps must be taken. Reviving idle factories such as Nsawam Cannery, Bolgatanga Meat Factory, Wenchi Tomato Factory, and Pomadze Poultry Farm would ensure that crops currently going to waste are processed, supporting both farmers’ livelihoods and national food security.

Strengthening local markets is equally important. School feeding programs, hospitals, and other procurement initiatives should purchase directly from local farmers, creating reliable demand, reducing waste, and increasing income. At the same time, investment in irrigation schemes—including Afife, Dawenya, Tono, Vea, and Kpong—will protect farmers from erratic rainfall and climate-related risks.

Developing modern storage and cold-chain facilities will preserve perishable crops and drastically reduce post-harvest losses. Policy continuity must link production, processing, storage, and market access to prevent cyclical waste. Education and technical support in value addition, mechanization, and post-harvest management will ensure long-term sustainability.

Ultimately, these measures require political will, consistent oversight, and timely action. As the Bible reminds us, “The hand of the diligent makes rich, but the lazy man’s hands make poverty” (Proverbs 10:4). Without decisive intervention, Ghana risks leaving its fertile lands and hardworking farmers exposed to climate and market uncertainties.

Farmers across Ghana send a clear message: “We don’t care what you call it; OFY, PFJ, 1D1F, Reset. Just make sure our produce doesn’t rot.” If the government acts now, Ghana can honor Nkrumah’s vision, secure its food supply, and ensure decades of toil are not wasted.

Author: Curtice Dumevor, Public Health Expert & Social Analyst