President John Dramani Mahama has launched a nationwide vegetable development initiative aimed at increasing food production, stabilizing prices, and improving Ghana’s capacity for both local consumption and export at Kukuom in the Ahafo Region.

Speaking at the launch on Thursday November 27, President Mahama emphasized the need for consistent food availability throughout the year.

“If we can plant food and have affordable foodstuffs to eat—whether in the rainy season or the dry season—then our people will be better off,” he said. “That is why we are bringing this program.” He announced that the initiative will be rolled out across all regions of Ghana. The first phase will involve six towns, each receiving 10 hectares of irrigated farmland.

The government plans to construct water systems and install storage tanks to support all-year-round cultivation. The land will be divided into 2.5-hectare plots for farmers. “After preparing the land, we will give farmers the seeds to plant—pepper, okra, onion, tomatoes and others,” President Mahama explained.

According to project officials, improved seed varieties have already been secured. These seeds are designed to grow faster and offer better storage qualities. “The tomatoes, for instance, can now be stored for much longer periods than before,”the President noted.

A key component of the project will be the establishment of a modern pack-house in each participating community. “Any ripe vegetables will be bought directly through the tomato and vegetable value chain,” he said. “Farmers will no longer struggle to take their produce to the market.”

The President added that the project is expected to strengthen both domestic food supply and export capacity. He revealed that recent changes in U.S. trade policy have created new opportunities for Ghanaian producers.

“America places tariffs on many countries that export food to them, including Ghana,”he said. “But now it has come to our notice that they have removed tariffs from Ghana, allowing us to export more food.”

The government says the initiative represents a major step toward modernizing Ghana’s agricultural sector and improving livelihoods in rural communities.

Sompaonline.com/Derrick Djan