Agrihouse Foundation has officially launched the seventh edition of the Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and the Gold in the Soil Awards, a national initiative dedicated to promoting and empowering women across Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Scheduled to take place from Wednesday, July 9 to Thursday, July 10, 2025, in the Central Region, under the theme ”Overcoming the Barriers to Women Agribusiness Development. ”
Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, the General Manager of Agrihouse Communications, Regina Mensah Boateng, highlighted that the 7th WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards, will build on the legacy of impact established over the past six years .
She described the WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards as a growing movement that, has over the years, helped shaped the identity, resilience, and confidence of the modern Ghanaian agriwoman.
“Through this platform, we are not only recognizing outstanding women, but we are reshaping the perception of agriculture as a thriving and inclusive sector,” Mrs. Mensah Boateng noted.
Now in its seventh year, the initiative has directly impacted over 18,000 women across the country, including farmers, agripreneurs, processors, and women living with disabilities from the Volta, Ashanti, Upper East, Upper West, Western, Western North, Eastern, and Bono Regions. Ms. Mensah Boateng emphasized that inclusivity remains central to the program’s ethos.
“We proudly say that women with disabilities have not been left behind,” she said. “Their stories are not only inspiring they are essential to the future of Ghana’s agricultural narrative.”
This year’s Gold in the Soil Awards will feature seventeen categories designed to reflect the strength, diversity, creativity, and resilience of women in agriculture.
These include the Passion for Farm Award, She-Innovates Award, Climate-Smart Women Project Award, Outstanding Woman in Extension Services Award, Super Woman Farmer Award, Royal Agro Award, Diamond in the Rough Award
The Feed to Food Awards – (Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries), Change Champion Award, Development Partner Award, Lady of the Region Award, Star Woman Agripreneur Award for Agro-Processing
And the She-Operates Award for Input Dealers, Queen of the Soil Award, Princess Carla Award, Gold in the Soil Award, and the Young Woman in Agribusiness Award.
Each category has been thoughtfully crafted to spotlight the critical roles women play across the agricultural value chain.
However, she pointed out two major gaps the Foundation aims to address. She raised concern about the absence of women operating tractors or agricultural machinery.
“In all our years of running this initiative, we are yet to identify a single woman in tractor or machinery operation,” she said. “This is a clear gap, and we believe the Central Region can lead the way in closing it.”
She further highlighted the widening age gap within the sector, noting that the youngest award-winning woman to date has been 35 years old.
“We need to see more young women entering the space not as a last resort, but as their first career choice,” she stressed. “From input dealership to processing, value addition, and machinery operation, the opportunities are vast for youth in agriculture.”
To ensure inclusivity and fairness, Agrihouse Foundation will collaborate with stakeholders across all twenty-four districts of the Central Region to guarantee a transparent and comprehensive nomination process.
She affirmed the Foundation’s commitment to recognizing every woman’s contribution. “Whether she is a farmer in a remote village or a young agripreneur just starting out, this platform is designed to elevate her,” she said.
She also acknowledged the invaluable support of Global Affairs Canada and Yara Ghana, whose partnership has significantly contributed to the initiative’s success.
The 7th WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards will not only celebrate excellence but also provide tangible support to selected awardees.
Beneficiaries will receive, mentorship, training, tricycles, irrigation pumps, fertilizers, knapsack sprayers, Wellington boots, seeds, and other essential farming tools and inputs among others
She encouraged Authorities, stakeholders in the central region, to work hand-in hand with Agrihouse Foundation to be able to understand the unique needs of women farmers in the central region and align its efforts to truly make a difference.
The 7th Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and the Gold in the Soil Awards is proudly sponsored by Global Affairs Canada and Yara Ghana Limited .
