For eight consecutive years, Global Affairs Canada has remained a steadfast partner in one of Ghana’s most impactful agricultural empowerment initiatives, the Women in Food and Agricultural Leadership Training Forum and Expo (WOFAGRIC) and the Gold in the Soil Awards.
Through its continued support, over 12,000 rural women farmers, farmers with disabilities, agribusiness entrepreneurs, processors, and marketers across Ghana have gained access to training, mentorship, recognition, and opportunities that have strengthened their livelihoods and broadened their participation in the country’s agricultural economy.
What began as a platform to celebrate and empower women in agriculture has evolved into a national movement that is changing lives, transforming communities, and redefining the role of women in Ghana’s food systems.
For many rural women, agriculture is more than a profession; it is a means of survival, a source of income, and a pathway to supporting families and educating children. Yet for decades, many of these women have remained invisible despite their immense contributions to food production and national development.
Recognizing this gap, Global Affairs Canada identified WOFAGRIC and the Gold in the Soil Awards. This initiative by Agrihouse Foundation is creating a platform that celebrates excellence while also providing practical support and opportunities for growth.
Over the years, the partnership has helped shine a spotlight on women whose stories would otherwise go untold. Women who cultivate crops under challenging conditions, process agricultural products to create value, manage thriving agribusinesses, and lead community initiatives have been recognized and empowered to do even more.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the initiative has been its commitment to inclusion. Through targeted interventions and recognition schemes, women farmers with disabilities have been given a platform to showcase their capabilities, challenge stereotypes, and inspire others within the agricultural sector.
For many beneficiaries, the impact has gone beyond awards and recognition. Access to training sessions, networking opportunities, leadership development programmes, and exposure to new technologies has enabled the rural women to improve productivity, increase incomes, and build sustainable enterprises.
The Gold in the Soil Awards, in particular, has become one of the country’s most respected agricultural recognition platforms. By honouring hardworking women and farmers with disabilities across various agricultural value chains, the awards have elevated the visibility of female agricultural leaders and inspired younger generations to pursue careers in agriculture.
Global Affairs Canada’s support has also contributed significantly to advancing gender equality within Ghana’s agricultural sector. By investing in women and ensuring that rural voices are heard, the partnership aligns with Canada’s broader commitment to inclusive development, economic empowerment, and sustainable growth.
Beyond individual success stories, the initiative has created ripple effects across communities. Women who have benefited from training and mentorship often pass on knowledge to fellow farmers, support local farmer groups, and serve as role models for young women seeking opportunities in agriculture. Impacting about 20,000 beneficiaries directly and indirectly.
As Ghana continues to pursue food security and agricultural transformation, the contribution of rural women remains indispensable. The sustained support of Global Affairs Canada demonstrates the importance of international partnerships that place women at the centre of development efforts.
Today, WOFAGRIC and the Gold in the Soil Awards stand as powerful examples of what can be achieved when governments, development partners, and local organizations work together with a shared vision. Through eight years of commitment and collaboration, Global Affairs Canada has helped create opportunities, restore confidence, and unlock the potential of thousands of women whose work continues to feed families, strengthen communities, and drive Ghana’s agricultural growth.
The impact of WOFAGRIC and the Gold in the Soil Awards, made possible through the sustained support of Global Affairs Canada and other partners, is evident in the thousands of success stories emerging from rural communities across Ghana. Over the years, women who once operated as smallholder farmers have expanded into agro-processors, established thriving agribusinesses, acquired transportation vehicles to move their produce to market, and transformed modest farm enterprises into growing industries that create jobs and opportunities for others.
Many women who previously struggled with post-harvest losses now own agro-processing equipment that allows them to add value to their produce, improve product quality, and extend shelf life. Others have successfully gained access to local and international markets. Across communities, women are breaking barriers, building businesses, employing others, and demonstrating that agriculture can be a pathway to economic independence and prosperity.
This year’s WOFAGRIC and Gold in the Soil Awards in the Savannah Region is expected to further strengthen this impact. Through the support of Global Affairs Canada, approximately 1,000 women farmers from across the country, including winners of the previous events to share their success stories. This shall include Canada sponsored beneficiaries of the Feed Ghana Initiative and Farmer Service Centres. The gathering will provide a unique platform for learning, networking, mentorship, market linkages, and knowledge exchange, while amplifying the voices of rural women farmers and farmers with disabilities.
As Agrihouse Foundation continues its regional engagements ahead of the event, anticipation is growing among stakeholders who recognize the transformative power of investing in women. The Savannah Region edition promises not only to celebrate excellence but also to inspire the next generation of women agricultural leaders. It will reaffirm the importance of partnerships that place women at the centre of agricultural development and demonstrate how sustained support from Global Affairs Canada continues to unlock opportunities, strengthen livelihoods, and contribute to Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda.
