GIPA urges infrastructure investment to cut Ghana’s post-harvest losses

The Ghana Investment Promotion Authority (GIPA) has called for major improvements to physical infrastructure in the country’s agricultural sector, warning that inadequate processing and transport facilities are causing crops to rot before they reach the market.

Mr Abdul Razack Baba, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of GIPA, said reducing post-harvest losses would improve investor confidence and encourage more investment in agriculture.

He cited the example of cashew apples being left to rot on farms because of a shortage of processing factories and difficulties transporting the fruit from farm gates. Mr Baba said the lack of infrastructure was preventing farmers and businesses from making the most of agricultural production.

Speaking at a regional forum in Sunyani in the Bono Region, Mr Baba said GIPA was working to improve infrastructure and promote clear national policies that would create a more favourable environment for businesses.

The forum was organised under the theme, “Driving local investment, unlocking regional potential: Mapping opportunities and mobilising growth in the Bono Region”. It was intended to highlight investment prospects and encourage both domestic and foreign investment in the region’s agricultural sector.

Mr Baba said GIPA was particularly interested in supporting joint ventures. The authority was also seeking to work with existing businesses to expand their economic activities, while encouraging greater partnerships between companies.

“The good news is that the Bank of Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance is reducing the lending rates for existing companies to have access to capital and to expand their businesses,” he stated.

He also invited landowners to work with the authority so their land could be formally registered and connected with potential investors.

Mr Baba said: “Now the GIPA is looking for individuals who have land for them to register their lands and link them up to investors”.

Bono investment opportunities

Mr Joseph Akwaboa, the Bono Regional Minister, said the region offered strong conditions for investment, including a favourable climate, fertile agricultural land, a peaceful environment and an industrious population.

He added that Bono also benefited from extensive land availability, abundant natural resources, a productive workforce and strong traditional institutions.

Mr Akwaboa urged investors to make use of the region’s agricultural potential by supporting agro-processing in cashew, maize, cassava, yam, plantain and vegetables, as well as fruit production, including mangoes. He also identified the region’s flourishing cocoa sector as an area with significant opportunities.

Other prospects included food processing, fruit juice production, starch manufacturing, edible oils, animal feed, rice milling, flour production and large-scale warehousing.

The regional minister said processing agricultural goods locally would help farmers and create a stronger and more resilient economy. He added that adding value to crops could reduce post-harvest losses, generate employment and strengthen the economic foundations of communities across the region.

GIPA’s forum formed part of efforts to map investment opportunities in Bono and mobilise capital for businesses capable of expanding agricultural production and processing.

The event was reported by Christopher Tetteh for the Ghana News Agency and edited by Dennis Peprah and Christabel Addo.