Damongo, Savannah Region – Preparations for the 8th edition of the Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Training Forum and Expo (WOFAGRIC) and the Gold in the Soil Awards have gathered momentum as a delegation from Agrihouse Foundation embarks on a strategic regional tour across the Savannah Region to engage key stakeholders, strengthen partnerships, and mobilize women farmers ahead of the main event on July 22 – 23, 2026, under the theme “Strengthening Rural Women Farmers’ Access to Agricultural Inputs, Mechanization and Extension Services – The Role of Government and Development.
The initiative continues to receive support from Global Affairs Canada, whose commitment to advancing gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, and inclusive agricultural development aligns with WOFAGRIC’s mission of equipping women farmers with the knowledge, networks, and opportunities needed to thrive.
The regional engagement forms part of efforts to ensure the successful hosting of this year’s WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards in the Savannah Region while deepening collaboration with government institutions, traditional authorities, agricultural stakeholders, and farming communities.
The first day of the tour saw the Agrihouse Foundation team pay a courtesy call on the Savannah Regional Minister, Hon. Salisu Be-Awuribe, where discussions centered on how the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council can collaborate with the Foundation to deliver a successful event. During the meeting, the team showcased some of Agrihouse Foundation’s flagship initiatives and presented a formal partnership proposal outlining opportunities for collaboration and regional support.
Following the engagement with the Regional Minister, the team proceeded to the Savannah Regional Directorate of Agriculture, where discussions were held with the Regional Extension Officer and Deputy Director of Agriculture. The meeting focused on identifying areas of partnership and support required from the Directorate to facilitate the smooth implementation of WOFAGRIC and the Gold in the Soil Awards.
As part of preparations, officials from the Directorate and the Women in Agricultural Development (WIAD) Unit accompanied the Agrihouse team to inspect potential venues within the region.
Later in the day, the team met with the Savannah Regional Director of Agriculture, Alhaji Seidu Suleiman, to discuss strategies for executing the programme through a coordinated and collaborative approach. The Director reaffirmed the Directorate’s commitment to supporting the initiative and emphasized the importance of engaging traditional authorities within the region.
He advised the team to pay courtesy visits to both the Damongo Wura and the Paramount Chief of the Gonja Kingdom, whose endorsement and participation would add significant value to the event and further elevate its profile within the region and beyond.
The second day of the tour took the Agrihouse Foundation team to the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba and Bole Districts, where they met with District Directors of Agriculture and WIAD Officers to discuss preparations for the event. The engagements focused on creating awareness about WOFAGRIC and the Gold in the Soil Awards while encouraging district-level agricultural officers to support the nomination and registration of outstanding women farmers and farmers with disabilities.
The team emphasized the need to identify and spotlight women farmers and farmers with disabilities who continue to make significant contributions to agriculture despite facing various challenges, including limited access to resources, markets, and opportunities.
The regional tour is expected to continue into its third day with visits to North Gonja Municipality in Daboya and Central Gonja District in Buipe. The team will engage District Directors of Agriculture, WIAD Officers, farmer groups, and community stakeholders to further promote participation in the upcoming event.
This year’s WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards is expected to bring together women farmers, agribusiness leaders, policymakers, development partners, agricultural institutions, traditional authorities, and youth from across the country to celebrate excellence, build leadership capacity, and advance inclusive agricultural development.
As Agrihouse Foundation continues its regional engagements, anticipation is steadily building across the Savannah Region, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the event will not only celebrate women in agriculture but also strengthen the region’s role in Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The Foundation remains committed to ensuring that women farmers, agripreneurs, processors, marketers, and farmers with disabilities are given the recognition, visibility, and opportunities they deserve as critical contributors to national food security and economic development.
