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MoFA, Sentuo sign agro-processing deal

In a bold and transformative move to accelerate Ghana’s agriculture industrialisation agenda, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sentuo Group Limited to drive large-scale agro-processing, value addition, and fertiliser manufacturing across the country. The agreement marks a significant step toward repositioning Ghana from a raw commodity exporter to a fully integrated agro-industrial powerhouse.

At the heart of the partnership is the development of modern agro-processing facilities and a national fertiliser manufacturing ecosystem designed to boost productivity, stabilise input costs, and enhance food security.

Speaking on the significance of the agreement at the signing in Accra yesterday, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, said: “This partnership represents a decisive shift from exporting raw commodities to building a resilient agro-industrial economy that creates value, jobs, and prosperity for our people.”

The MoU establishes a framework for the development of industrial-scale processing plants for key agricultural commodities such as cashew, maize, rice, soybean, and oil palm and integrates packaging, quality control, storage, and export systems.

In addition, the partnership includes the establishment of a National Fertiliser Manufacturing Plant and Integrated Input Supply System, aimed at reducing Ghana’s heavy reliance on imported fertilisers and ensuring a stable, affordable supply for farmers nationwide.

Mr Opoku emphasised the strategic importance of this intervention, noting that: “For too long, our farmers have been exposed to the volatility of imported inputs. This initiative secures Ghana’s fertiliser independence and guarantees consistent supply at competitive prices.”

This initiative is expected to serve as a cornerstone of the government’s broader agricultural transformation agenda under the Feed Ghana Programme and the 24-Hour Economy policy.

The Sentuo partnership is expected to complement and sustain government’s agricultural interventions by establishing local production capacity, thereby reducing foreign exchange pressure and insulating the country from global supply shocks.

Reinforcing government’s commitment, Eric Opoku added: “This is how we anchor our agricultural policy in sustainability—by aligning public investment with private sector capacity to deliver long-term national impact.”

Sentuo Group Limited, an international industrial and infrastructure development firm, has committed to financing, designing, constructing, and operating the proposed facilities under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in line with Ghana’s legal and regulatory framework.

The company will deploy modern technology, mobilise international technical partnerships, and ensure compliance with environmental and industrial standards, while also prioritising job creation, skills transfer, and local content development.

The ministry’s role will focus on policy coordination, regulatory facilitation, and stakeholder alignment across government institutions, ensuring seamless project implementation and integration into national programmes.

With this landmark MoU, Ghana is positioning itself to reduce post-harvest losses through processing and storage, increase export earnings through value-added products, stabilise fertiliser prices and improve farmer access, create thousands of jobs across the agricultural value chain, and strengthen food security and economic resilience.

As implementation progresses through feasibility studies, regulatory approvals, and PPP structuring, the MoFA-Sentuo partnership stands as a flagship example of how strategic collaboration between government and private investors can unlock Ghana’s full agricultural potential.

BY JULIUS YAO PETETS

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