Ghana: courtesy call on Minister of Food and Agriculture
The Ambassador of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E Jeroen Verheul, and his team paid a courtesy visit to Hon. Bryan Acheampong, the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture in Ghana. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the Embassy's Multi-Annual Strategy in agriculture, with a specific focus on Ghana's Cocoa and Horticultural sectors.
The Netherlands is committed to facilitating the exchange of technical expertise and establishing partnerships with Dutch businesses to enhance the development and advancement of these sectors. As the largest importer of cocoa beans from Ghana, the Netherlands is dedicated to improving Ghana's cocoa value chain. To achieve this, the Netherlands will share findings of a study on effective cocoa production methods worldwide with Ghana's Ministry. This exchange aims to expose the Ghanaian cocoa sector to different agricultural practices implemented elsewhere.
Moreover, the Dutch will commission horticultural projects that focus on training youth and women in climate-smart practices. These projects will facilitate access to markets and curb post-harvest losses. The embassy will also play a crucial role in establishing a Horticultural Development Authority to enhance professionalism within the horticultural sector. To ensure collaboration among all relevant stakeholders, the Dutch will establish a Horticultural Business Platform. Additionally, an access to finance module will be implemented to provide support to all participants involved in the horticultural value chain. The Minister appointed a Liaison Officer from the Ministry who will be responsible for nurturing a collaborative working relationship with the embassy.