Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has accused the Akufo-Addo-led administration of leaving behind a legacy of debt and economic hardship. Speaking on Accra FM’s The Citizen Show on Friday, August 22, 2025, Opoku revealed that his ministry inherited a staggering GHS 9 billion debt, including arrears for goods and services and unpaid statutory obligations such as FAO membership dues.
According to the minister, these outstanding payments led the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to sever ties with Ghana—an outcome he described as deeply concerning for a sector vital to national development.
Opoku emphasized the Ministry’s central role in the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy initiative, noting that the newly launched Feed Ghana programme aims to boost food security, reduce prices, and ensure consistent availability and quality.
He criticized the previous administration’s Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, pointing to a record 61% food inflation in July 2023, the highest in Ghana’s Fourth Republic. By contrast, food inflation stood at just 5% in 2014 under President Mahama’s first term.
The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to revitalizing the agriculture sector, clearing inherited debts, and delivering meaningful change through the 24-Hour Economy and Feed Ghana initiatives.
