The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has commended the Saviour Church of Ghana for its significant contribution to agricultural development and national food security through its participation in the government’s flagship Feed Ghana Programme.
The Minister made the commendation during a working visit to Gyidiman Farms, owned by the church’s leader, Nana Abraham, to assess ongoing farming activities and explore opportunities for further government support.
Hon. Eric Opoku disclosed that the Saviour Church of Ghana was the first religious institution to register under the Feed Ghana Programme following engagements initiated by the Ministry even before the official launch of the programme.
He said the church’s longstanding investment in agricultural production makes it an important partner in the government’s efforts to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector and achieve food self-sufficiency.
The Minister expressed excitement at the scale of agricultural activities at Gyidiman Farms, which boasts over 350 acres of cashew, 320 acres of mango and 450 acres of maize ready for harvesting.
The farm also produces tomatoes, pepper, onions, ginger and other food crops, in addition to its extensive livestock operations.
He further commended the church for extending its investment beyond primary production into agro-processing, particularly its rice processing facility, which processes and packages locally produced rice under the brand name Gidiman Local Perfume Rice.
Hon. Opoku, however, emphasised the need to transition Ghanaian agriculture from dependence on rainfall to irrigation-based farming to guarantee consistent production throughout the year.
He explained that the government’s Irrigation for Wealth Creation initiative, launched by President John Dramani Mahama, seeks to expand irrigation infrastructure across the country to support all-year-round agricultural production.
As part of this commitment, the Minister announced that government was facilitating the provision of irrigation infrastructure for Gidiman Farms, with the procurement process nearing completion.
He also disclosed that the Ministry had secured the support of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition to connect the farm to the national electricity grid to facilitate the operation of the irrigation system.
According to him, contractors are already on the ground undertaking the electricity connection works, paving the way for the installation and operation of the irrigation infrastructure.
The Minister expressed confidence that the intervention would eliminate water constraints and significantly enhance the farm’s production capacity.
He also called on Ghanaians to prioritise locally produced agricultural products, particularly locally processed rice, stressing that increased patronage would stimulate investment, expand agro-processing and create employment opportunities.
Hon. Opoku noted that Ghana’s agricultural transformation requires strong collaboration between government, religious institutions, farmers, private investors and processors.
He said the Saviour Church of Ghana’s investment in commercial farming and agro-processing demonstrates the important role religious institutions can play in national development and the achievement of food security.
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting credible agricultural investments and strengthening partnerships under the Feed Ghana Programme to boost domestic food production, create jobs and build a resilient agricultural economy.
