Renowned agricultural scientist, Professor Roger Kanton, has called on the government to prioritise the revitalisation of food processing factories across the country as part of efforts to strengthen Ghana’s agricultural sector.

Speaking to Citi Newsroom on June 19, 2025, Prof. Kanton emphasised that reviving key agro-processing facilities would add value to farm produce, create more opportunities for farmers, and significantly reduce post-harvest losses.

“Revive food processing facilities such as the sugar factory, tomato factory, rice factories, and meat factories to add value to our farm produce and reduce waste,” he urged.

Prof. Kanton criticised the long-standing neglect of several factories established by past administrations, arguing that many of these once-promising assets have been left to deteriorate despite their potential to contribute to economic growth.

He expressed disappointment that initiatives like the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) and One-Village-One-Factory have yet to deliver their full impact on the economy, particularly in the agro-industrial space.

“There’s constant talk about One-District-One-Factory or One-Village-One-Factory, but we’ve failed to even maintain the factories built under Kwame Nkrumah,” he said. “How can we build new local industries when we discourage those who invest in food processing and allow existing factories to collapse?”

Calls for the reactivation of dormant factories—such as the Komenda Sugar Factory—have grown louder in recent years, with many seeing them as key to improving agricultural value chains and supporting rural development.

Despite his criticisms, Prof. Kanton acknowledged the government’s broader efforts to restore economic stability and welcomed the inclusion of agriculture as a central pillar of the Resetting Agenda.

“There is much more to be done to transform the agricultural sector,” he noted. “But I remain hopeful that under the government’s Resetting Agenda, these critical issues will receive the serious attention they deserve.”