The Agricultural Development Bank PLC (ADB) has held its annual National Farmers’ Day Welcome Cocktail in Ho on Monday, December 1, 2025, to honour winners of the 41st National Best Farmers and Fishers Awards.
The event, organised as part of the weeklong National Farmers’ Day celebrations, brought together national awardees to celebrate their achievements and acknowledge their contributions to Ghana’s agricultural development.
Addressing the award winners on behalf of the bank’s Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director Professor Ferdinand Ahiakpor congratulated all nominees for the excellence that earned them national recognition.
Prof. Ahiakpor, who described the gathering “as a very special evening for us to welcome and honour our distinguished, hardworking farmers and fishers,” commended the gallant farmers and fishers for their relentless dedication and contributions to the agricultural sector.
Speaking to this year’s theme, “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future,” he reiterated ADB’s strong commitment to supporting national efforts toward food security. He highlighted the bank’s focus on intensifying investments in climate-resilient farming, agro-industrial supply chains, and youth employment within the sector.
He further stressed that ensuring food security is a collective responsibility. “It is a shared responsibility,” he said, calling on policymakers, financial institutions, agribusinesses, and the public to collaborate toward sustainable food systems.
Prof. Ahiakpor noted that beyond sponsoring the ultimate prize of GHS1.2 million for the National Best Farmer, ADB also sponsors the National Farmers’ Day Forum and the annual Welcome Cocktail. He announced that the bank had deepened its sponsorship in 2025 by donating GHS200,000 to support the National Best Fisher and an additional GHS50,000 to the Best Second Cycle School in Practical Agriculture.
“Our sponsorships and association with these events over the years is a testament of our commitment to support farmers and an indication of our desire not to derail from our focus on our original mandate,” he added.
General Manager in charge of Agribusiness at ADB, Kwame Asiedu Attrams, reaffirmed the bank’s long-standing role as lead sponsor of the National Farmers’ Day Awards. He emphasized that the Welcome Cocktail remains one of ADB’s flagship events for celebrating agricultural excellence and strengthening its bond with the sector it was established to serve.
Mr. Attrams reiterated the bank’s commitment to supporting farmers and fishers with tailor-made banking products and services designed to make financial access easier and more beneficial for them.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, John Dumelo, expressed gratitude to ADB for its consistent and expanded support toward the 2025 National Farmers’ Day celebrations. He commended farmers and fishers for their indispensable role in sustaining Ghana’s food basket, noting that the nation’s food security heavily relies on their dedication.
The cocktail provided a platform for networking among policymakers, agricultural executives, financiers, and farmers, reinforcing ADB’s mission to champion the sector.
