How cassava can transform Ghana’s economy: Unlocking the hidden potential of a humble crop to drive jobs, boost exports, and strengthen Ghana’s future

When we talk about Ghana’s economic future, the spotlight often shines on gold, cocoa, and oil. But there’s a humble hero qui­etly waiting in the wings: cassava, the starchy root that millions of Ghanaians rely on every day.

Cassava isn’t just food. It’s a powerful economic game-changer, packed with potential to lift rural communities, create jobs, boost ex­ports, and help Ghana’s economy flourish in ways we’ve barely begun to imagine. Every day, across Gha­na’s villages and towns, cassava is transformed into staples like gari, fufu, and kokonte, delicious foods that fill stomachs and fuel families. It’s easy to overlook this root as “just food,” but cassava is much more than that.

It’s a crop that thrives where others struggle. It grows well in poor soils and stands strong against droughts, making it a lifeline for farmers. But here’s the twist: cassava is not only a survival crop; it’s a goldmine waiting to be mined.

Look beyond the kitchen, and cassava’s magic multiplies. This root is the base for dozens of in­dustrial products, from starch used in textiles, paper, and adhesives to ethanol that fuels cars and even biodegradable packaging. Coun­tries like Thailand and Brazil have turned cassava into billion-dollar industries. Thailand alone earns over $2 billion a year exporting cassava starch and animal feed. And guess what? Ghana’s climate is even better suited for cassava. Yet we still import many of these products.

Imagine the economic ripple ef­fect if Ghana mastered the cassava value chain from farm to factory to foreign markets. Cassava isn’t just an agricultural crop; it’s a powerful lever for economic growth. With over 70 per cent of Ghanaian farmers growing cassava, scaling up processing could add up to three per cent to our GDP. That’s a seri­ous economic kick. By producing starch, ethanol, and flour locally, Ghana can reduce costly imports and increase exports. More exports mean more dollars flowing into our economy. Every cedi earned from cassava exports helps support the Ghanaian cedi’s value. That means less volatility and more confidence for businesses and investors. Cas­sava’s value chain also offers jobs beyond the farm in processing, packaging, transport, and mar­keting, especially for women and youth in rural areas. This can be a real engine for poverty reduction. Cassava, in short, can be a corner­stone for broad-based economic growth that touches every corner of Ghana.

This is where import substitu­tion industrialisation (ISI) becomes more than just a policy buzzword; it becomes a national imperative. By replacing imported starch, flour, and ethanol with locally processed cassava products, Ghana can conserve foreign exchange, reduce pressure on the cedi, and build re­silience in its balance of trade. ISI not only supports local industries and farmers but also strengthens the broader economy through domestic value addition and job creation.

One shining example of this vision in action is the starch pro­cessing factory at Amanteng, near Attebubu, an initiative spearheaded by Ken Ohene Agyapong and his business partner, Mr Oppong Bio. These visionary entrepreneurs foresaw cassava’s potential not just as food, but as fuel for industrial transformation. Their factory stands as a case study in agro-pro­cessing excellence and import substitution, a bold response to Ghana’s dependency on imported industrial starch. It demonstrates how private sector leadership can ignite a nationwide revolution in value addition, food security, and rural industrialisation.

Ken Ohene Agyapong has long championed the cause of industrial self-reliance. To him, Ghana’s economic destiny must be reclaimed through pragmatic, home-grown solutions. He believes that agro-processing holds the key to unlocking the value of what we already grow, empowering farmers, stabilising the currency, and pro­viding sustainable jobs. His advoca­cy is rooted not just in rhetoric but in results; his investments speak the language of transformation.

But this won’t happen by chance. Ghana must treat cassava as a strategic national asset. That means investing in modern cassava processing factories and industrial parks, funding research to develop higher-yield, pest-resistant variet­ies; improving rural infrastructure roads, electricity, and water to support farming and processing; providing farmers and entrepre­neurs with better access to finance and markets; and promoting ex­ports and meeting global standards to open new doors for cassava products.

Cassava is more than a root crop; it’s a symbol of resilience and opportunity. If Ghana can unlock its potential, we’re looking at a future where rural farmers become industrial entrepreneurs, where cassava products fill warehous­es and ships bound for markets worldwide, and where Ghana’s economy grows stronger and more diversified. The time to act is now. Let’s stop seeing cassava as “just food” and start seeing it as the economic powerhouse it truly is. Let us follow the lead of visionar­ies who build, who process, who export, and who believe in Ghana’s capacity to feed and fuel its future.

Cassava is Ghana’s hidden trea­sure. It’s time to dig deep, cultivate wisely, and watch our economy bloom.

BY KWAKU AMOH-DARTEH, ESQ.