In an effort to familiarize himself with the various operational divisions of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), newly appointed Minister Hon. Eric Opoku launched a tour of selected directorates on Monday. This visit marks his first official engagement since taking office on January 23, 2025.
The tour commenced at the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate, where Minister Opoku received a warm welcome from Director Mr. Eric Benstil Quaye. Mr. Quaye outlined the directorate's crucial responsibilities, which include managing plant pest risks to protect international trade as mandated by the Plant and Fertilizer Act of 2010. He highlighted the directorate's vital role in promoting agricultural growth and sustainability by overseeing the import and export of plants and plant products through 53 designated border checkpoints.
During the visit, Acting Chief Director, Mr. Paul Siameh noted that the minister's goal was to gain an understanding of the directorates' work environments while fostering direct communication with staff. He emphasized the importance of future engagements to explore ongoing agricultural initiatives and the challenges facing the ministry more deeply.
In his address, Mr. Quaye outlined the directorate's vision of delivering efficient, environmentally safe, and economically sustainable plant protection services. However, he raised several urgent challenges, including the loss of land due to official purchases and encroachments, inadequate road infrastructure hindering operational efficiency, and a low retention rate of internally generated funds, which currently stands at just 13 percent.
In response to these concerns, Minister Opoku expressed his commitment to listening to his team and reaffirmed the government's determination to leverage agriculture as a key driver of economic transformation. "Agriculture has the potential to create jobs and tackle economic issues, especially in relation to the exchange rate," he stated, emphasizing the need to boost production for national self-sufficiency, particularly among the youth.
After concluding his visit at the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate, Minister Opoku continued his tour, stopping at the Statistics Research and Information Directorate, Human Resource Development and Management Directorate, Directorate for Agricultural Extension Services, and the Crops Services Directorate.
Minister Opoku's visit is seen as a strategic effort to enhance collaboration within the ministry and address critical challenges facing Ghana's agricultural sector, laying the foundation for a sustainable future in food security and economic growth.