The Executive Director of Agrihouse Foundation, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, has urged members of the Ghanaian Diaspora Community to channel greater investments into the country’s agricultural sector, describing it as a powerful engine for job creation, economic empowerment, and sustainable national development.
Speaking during a panel discussion on the theme, “Examples of Diaspora’s Contributions to Job Creation, Economic Growth, and Development Impacts,” at the Ghana Diaspora Investment Forum held at the Kempinski Hotel on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Ms. Akosa emphasized the transformative potential of agriculture when supported with innovative policies, strategic investment, and inclusive programming.
“Agriculture is no longer just about working the land it is about innovation, trade, and sustainability,” she stated. “If we can strategically harness diaspora interest and investment, particularly into the existing interventions we’ve developed, the transformation we envision will be more rapid and more impactful.”
Ms. Akosa shared key policy innovations and initiatives led by Agrihouse Foundation that are successfully creating viable pathways for diaspora engagement in Ghana’s agricultural sector. Notably, she cited the Women in Food and Agriculture Leadership Training Forum (WOFAGRIC) and the AgriWoman Marketplace programs supported by Global Affairs Canada as impactful platforms that are empowering women both locally and abroad.
These initiatives have enabled women, including those in the diaspora, to gain hands-on knowledge in value addition, processing, packaging, branding, and export readiness,” she explained. “Some of our beneficiaries have leveraged these skills to tap into international markets, scale their agribusinesses, and create jobs within their communities.”
she added that the foundation through its Custom Contract Farming initiative has also been able to help farmers secure guaranteed markets and investment supports.
“Through our Custom Contract Farming model, we’re helping farmers plan and produce based on real-time market demand and secure commitments from off-takers. This has given and continue to give both local and diaspora investors a level of confidence in returns and impact,” she said.
She stressed that the Foundation’s efforts are designed to be inclusive and far-reaching, benefiting women, youth, persons with disabilities, rural and commercial farmers, and anyone operating along the agricultural value chain.
“Our goal is to scale up agribusiness in a way that is holistic, sustainable, and equitable,” she said. “By engaging the diaspora as partners and investors in this vision, we can unlock new levels of impact both economically and socially.”
She called for deeper collaboration between diaspora investors and organizations that are laying the groundwork for impactful engagement in its sector of operations.
