The agriculture sector is key to the overall economic growth and development of the country.
Agriculture is expected to lead the growth and structural transformation of the economy and maximize the benefits of accelerated growth. It is expected that significant growth in the productivity of the agricultural sector will raise the average real incomes of Ghanaians. The agricultural sector also has direct impact on the attainment of at least five of the Millennium Goals.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture is therefore charged with the responsibility of seeing to the growth and development of the Agricultural Sector in Ghana.
Considering the various aspects of Agriculture, a Minister, supported by Deputy Ministers heads the Ministry.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture is responsible to Government for all issues pertaining to the agricultural sector. He gives policy direction to enable the Government achieves its vision to modernize agriculture culminating in a structurally transformed economy and evident in food security, employment opportunities and poverty reduction.
As a sector responsible for food and agriculture, the Minister’s responsibility is also to ensure that the policies and programmes of the Ministry are in tune with national, regional i.e. Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Proramme (CAADP) and international agricultural performance targets.
The Minister in this direction, has put in place the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP II) and the Medium Term Agriculture Sector Development Policy (METASIP) (2001 – 2015) consistent with the ECOWAS Agriculture Policy and NEPAD’s Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Proramme (CAADP), to provide an integrated framework to support Agricultural Growth, Rural Development and Food Security in the country in particular and the African Region as a whole.
The Minister is further charged with the responsibility to seek for investments to implement the policy objectives and planned programmes to enable the country attain the following:
- Food security and emergency preparedness.
- Improve growth in incomes.
- Increased competitive and enhance integration into domestic and international markets.
- Sustainable management of land and environment science and technology applied in food and agriculture development and
- Improved institutional coordination.
The Minister gives both administrative and political leadership to his Deputy Ministers and the entire staff as to achieve the Ministry’s objective and carry out Government policies within the agricultural sector.
The Minister is administratively and technically supported by the Ag. Chief Director Mr. Patrick Robert Ankobiah and the following line and technical directorates:
| Line Directorates | Director |
| Human Resource Development and Management. Directorate (HRDM) | Mr. Lawoetey Tettey (Director) |
| Finance and Administration Directorate (F&A) | Mr. Patrick Robert Ankobiah (Director) |
| Policy Planning and Budget Directorate | Mr. Nuhu Ibrahim (Director) |
| Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (MED) | Mr. Patrick Ofori (Head) |
| Project Coordination Unit | Mr. Richard Twumasi-Ankrah (Director) |
| Agribusiness Unit | Mr. Jeremy Agyemang (Head) |
| Statistics, Research and Information Directorate (SRID) | Mr. George Harrison Opoku (Director) |
| TECHNICAL DIRECTORATES | HEAD |
| Agricultural Engineering Service | Mr. Amatus K.B. Deyang |
| Agricultural Extension Service | Dr. Kwame Amezah |
| Animal Production (APD) | Mr. Kwamena Arkorful |
| Directorate of Crop Services | Mr. Seth Osei-Akoto |
| Financial Controller | Ms. Diana Amoako Kissiwa |
| Plant Protection and Regulatory Services (PPRSD) | Dr. Mrs. Felicia Ansah Amprofi |
| Veterinary Services | Dr. Kenneth Gbeddy |
| Women In Agriculture | Ms. Paulina Addy |
There is also the Veterinary Council that advises the Hon. Minister on issues on Veterinary Service Delivery and Organization.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture also has responsibility for three sub-vented organizations and a State-Owned Enterprise under the Ministry.
| ORGANIZATION | HEAD |
| Ghana Irrigation Development Authority | Dr. Ben Nyamadi |
| Grains and Legumes Development Board (GLDB) | Dr. Robert Asuboa |
| Irrigation Company of Upper Region (ICOUR) | Alhaji Bukari |
| National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) | Chief Executive |
