In January 2026, members of the Agricultural Working Group came together at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, under guidance of Hon. Eric Opoku, Minister of Food and Agriculture, and H.E. Jeroen Verheul Ambassador, of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana. The meeting provided an opportunity to reflect on the results achieved over the past year and to present and discuss the planned activities for the coming year. It served as an important moment to take stock of progress, reaffirm shared priorities, and ensure alignment between Ghana and the Netherlands.
Beeld: Figure 1 The Agricultural Working group meeting in January 2026
The meeting, which was attended by a large (technical) delegation from both sides, focused on reporting the results of the collaboration over the past year. It was highlighted that the Technical Working Group on Seeds has been formally established and has commenced its activities. The group has concentrated on strengthening institutional cooperation, facilitating knowledge exchange, and supporting capacity building within Ghana’s seed sector.
Regarding the Technical Working Group on Agribusiness, it was noted that while preparatory discussions have taken place and the framework for cooperation has been outlined, the group has not yet started its activities. Both sides acknowledged this as a priority for the coming period.
The meeting not only reviewed the concrete steps taken within the framework, but also looked ahead to further strengthening bilateral cooperation. In this context, the Minister was officially invited to visit the Netherlands, with a view to deepening collaboration, engaging with Dutch public and private sector partners, and advancing the shared ambitions in the horticulture, seeds and agribusiness sectors.
Activities and key results in 2025
Several joint activities were undertaken in 2025, contributing to the shared objectives of the Technical Working Group on Seeds.
Beeld: Figure 2. Visit to the Mangoase Community Seed Bank
- Launch of Ghana Seed Partnership
Key result: Improved collaboration on attracting investment to the seed sector, focussing on enabling environment support, commercial seedling production, variety trials and market development, by launching Ghana Seed Partnership.
- Supported the roundtable discussion on seed sector development (SeedLINK)
Key result: a shared understanding of opportunities and challenges within the Ghanaian seed sector and strengthened dialogue between public and private stakeholders. - Capacity building activities, including training on standardising DUS testing
Key result: strengthened technical capacity in the area of Plant Variety Protection (PVP) and DUS testing, which are essential for a well-functioning variety registration system. - Visit to the community seed bank in Mangoase
Key result: improved understanding of community seed systems and their important role in enhancing climate resilience and local food security.
Together, these activities contributed to a strong foundation for cooperation and a shared vision on how collaboration can support a resilient and inclusive seed sector in Ghana.
Looking ahead: priorities for 2026
Building on the progress made in 2025, the Technical Working Group has set out an ambitious agenda for 2026. Planned activities include:
- Development of a vegetable seed sector roadmap for Ghana
- Organisation of a workshop or webinar on regulatory innovations, focusing on enabling environment topics
- Organisation of a workshop or webinar on the principles of Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD)
- Participation in the SeedLINK exhibition and the Grow24 Secretariat Roundtable on Seeds (March 2026)
- Continued capacity building activities, including further training on standardising DUS testing
- Field visits to the new facility of Iribov West Africa and the GSP seedling pilot
Outlook
The Technical Working Group on Seeds has proven to be a valuable platform for structured and results-oriented cooperation between Ghana and the Netherlands. By combining policy dialogue, technical expertise and practical engagement, the partnership contributes to the development of a strong, innovative and climate-resilient seed sector. The planned activities for 2026 demonstrate the shared commitment of both countries to achieving sustainable impact in the year ahead.