The General Agricultural Workers’ Union, GAWU of TUC–Ghana, has urged government to establish a Ghana Agricultural Service, arguing, that without this permanent professional body, the annual Farmers’ Day celebration risks losing its true meaning.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary of GAWI, GneerFarmers’ Day Is Meaningless Without the Establishment of a Ghana Agricultural Service marking the 2025 Farmers’ Day, the Union acknowledged the crucial role farmers play in feeding the nation and sustaining the economy, often under harsh conditions, marked by unpredictable weather, market instability and rising production costs.
GAWU also commended the government for key agricultural interventions, including the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness, which have boosted mechanization, expanded irrigation support and encouraged the philosophy of producing and consuming locally.
Related Stories
The General Agricultural Workers’ Union, GAWU of TUC–Ghana, has urged government to establish a Ghana Agricultural Service, arguing, that without this permanent professional body, the annual Farmers’ Day celebration risks losing its true meaning.
Despite these gains, GAWU expressed concern that agricultural development lacks the institutional foundation necessary for consistency and long-term success. The Union stressed that unlike the health and education sectors, which benefit from the Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service, agriculture has no dedicated service to ensure continuity in policy formulation, research, extension work and accountability. Without such a structure, they warned, the country risks relying on short-term interventions that fail to secure the future of the sector.
GAWU identified several urgent areas where government action is required. Notable among them is the employment of agricultural graduates to address the severe extension officer deficit. The current farmer-to-extension officer ratio of 1:1,500, which greatly exceeds the internationally recommended ratio of 1:500, limits farmers’ access to expert guidance and technical support. The Union noted that many qualified graduates from agricultural colleges remain unemployed, not because they lack skills but because key institutions such as the Department of Agriculture, Ghana Cocoa Board and research bodies do not have the budgetary space to hire them.
The Union also called for the recapitalization of the Ghana Cocoa Board, warning that its debt burden and weakened capacity to invest in yield improvement, value addition and essential support services threaten the sustainability of the cocoa sector. Cocoa, which remains a vital pillar of Ghana’s economy and a major source of foreign exchange, requires a strong and well-resourced COCOBOD to continue serving farmers effectively. Additionally, GAWU highlighted a critical gap in research infrastructure, particularly within the horticulture sub-sector.
They urged government to revisit the 2013 approval issued by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to establish a National Horticulture Research Institute. Such an institute, the Union noted, would support innovation, improve yields and enable Ghana to expand its export potential in fruits, vegetables and tree crops. The statement emphasized that Farmers’ Day should not be reduced to an annual ceremony but must serve as a reminder of Ghana’s commitment to building a resilient, modern and inclusive agricultural sector.
The Union reaffirmed that securing Ghana’s future requires prioritizing the wellbeing and empowerment of farmers whose labour keeps the nation nourished. They also paid a special tribute to women in agriculture—describing them as the backbone of planting, harvesting, processing and trading—and pledged to continue advocating their protection, recognition and leadership. Signed by General Secretary Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, the statement underscored GAWU’s unwavering dedication to defending and uplifting the workers who feed the country.
