Accra: The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has raised concerns about the neglect of decentralised agriculture at the local level, warning that it could impact key sector policies such as the Feed Ghana Programme, the 24-Hour Economy Policy, and others. The Chamber emphasized that weak district agricultural services undermine national policies aimed at achieving food security, youth employment, agribusiness development, and rural transformation goals.
According to Ghana Web, CAG has appealed to the government to decentralise key agricultural sector policies to promote growth at the local level. Anthony Morrison, CEO of CAG, highlighted that the issue is not merely about centralised policy design but also about the risk of implementation failure due to inadequate local financing. Morrison pointed out that the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), established under Article 252 of the Constitution, is the primary source of discretionary funding for MMDAs, intended to promote equitable development by providing local governments with access to national resources.
However, CAG noted a critical shortcoming in the DACF framework: the absence of a statutory or protected allocation for agriculture. This oversight results in District Chief Executives prioritising other demands such as roads, classrooms, and sanitation over agriculture, despite its importance. Consequently, district departments of agriculture often lack the necessary resources for extension work, farmer training, and agribusiness support, leading to reduced productivity and innovation in rural areas.
CAG suggested that for effective decentralisation and local economic development, agriculture should not be an afterthought in district financing. The Chamber called for reforms, including a statutory minimum allocation of the DACF to agriculture, to support agribusiness at the MMDA level. Morrison proposed ring-fencing a portion of the DACF for agricultural development, which would enhance extension delivery, irrigation, mechanisation services, and value chain development.
The Chamber also advocated for stronger accountability mechanisms, recommending that district composite budgets include specific agricultural budget lines and performance indicators. Additionally, Morrison proposed the creation of a Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Service (GAAS) within the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, similar to the Ghana Education Service and Ghana Health Service, to provide a dedicated institutional home for decentralised agricultural service delivery with consistent funding and logistics.