Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has officially opened the Ghana AgroTech Fair 2026 in Accra, calling for greater use of innovation and technology to turn agriculture into a key engine of growth and prosperity. The fair, themed 'Transforming Agribusiness through Local Innovation and Technology,' has brought together farmers, tech experts, researchers, and agribusiness players to share ideas and explore practical solutions to improve productivity using local expertise.
According to Ghana Web, addressing participants, the President said the event is not just about displaying machines, but about creating real opportunities by linking ideas, research, and investment. He emphasized that events like this connect ideas to enterprise, research to industry, and innovation to investment, aiding in transforming agriculture from a sector of survival to one of opportunity, productivity, and national prosperity.
He stressed the need for Ghana to invest in its own technological capabilities rather than rely heavily on imported systems across the agricultural value chain. President Mahama remarked that no nation can transform its agricultural economy while indefinitely depending on imported machinery and technological systems at every stage of production. He urged for a deliberate effort to build the capacity to design, fabricate, adapt, maintain, and scale agricultural technologies locally.
As part of efforts to support farmers more directly, President Mahama announced plans to cut the sod for the first farmer service centre at Afram Plains, marking the start of a nationwide rollout of 50 centres. The first phase will cover 11 key agricultural areas. He explained that farmers who register with these centres will benefit from mechanisation services, training, and guidance from extension officers to improve production, processing, and value addition.
The Ghana AgroTech Fair 2026 is expected to serve as a meeting point for industry players and investors, helping to drive a more modern, resilient, and profitable agricultural sector in the country.