“Do not go to districts as bosses, but as servants to the people" — Agric Minister

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku (MP), has admonished newly deployed District Feed Ghana Coordinators to approach their assignments with humility, discipline and a spirit of service, insisting that they are being sent to support Ghana's agricultural transformation—not to create parallel structures or assume authority over existing officers.

Speaking at the passing-out ceremony of 506 members of the Feed Ghana Brigade in Accra, the Minister emphasized that the coordinators would become part of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture's established service delivery system and must work within the existing administrative framework.

According to Mr. Opoku, every District Feed Ghana Coordinator is expected to operate under the administrative leadership and guidance of the respective District Director of Agriculture while maintaining close collaboration with agricultural extension officers and other technical staff already serving in the districts.

He stressed that the District Director of Agriculture remains the head of the Ministry's operations at the district level and urged the newly deployed coordinators to respect the established chain of command.

"I expect every coordinator to respect that authority and work within the established chain of command," he said.

The Minister cautioned the coordinators against creating unnecessary rivalry with existing officers, stressing that the success of the Feed Ghana Programme would depend on cooperation rather than competition.

"Success will come through cooperation, not competition; coordination, not duplication; and teamwork, not parallel structures," he stated.

Mr. Opoku therefore urged the coordinators to see themselves as public servants committed to supporting farmers and strengthening agricultural service delivery.

"Do not go to the districts as bosses. Go as servants to the people. Go to strengthen the existing system, not to replace it. Go to support your District Directors, extension officers and other technical staff in delivering the objectives of the Feed Ghana Programme efficiently, professionally and harmoniously," he charged.

Touching on the broader objectives of the initiative, the Minister said the effectiveness of the Feed Ghana Programme would not be measured by policy announcements made in Accra but by practical outcomes in farming communities across the country.

He said the programme's success would be reflected in the number of farmers reached, the acreage cultivated, increased food production, the number of young people attracted to agriculture, women supported, agricultural value chains strengthened and renewed confidence in Ghana's agricultural sector.

Mr. Opoku described agriculture as the foundation of every serious economy, noting that no nation can attain genuine independence if it cannot feed its people.

He said a strong agricultural sector is indispensable to sustainable industrialisation, economic growth and job creation, adding that no country can build a resilient economy while neglecting farmers, processors, transporters, traders and agribusiness entrepreneurs.

The Minister further explained that President John Dramani Mahama's vision for agriculture extends beyond food production, describing it as a comprehensive strategy aimed at stimulating economic growth, strengthening national security, creating employment opportunities, driving industrialisation and restoring hope to young people willing to venture into agriculture.

He encouraged the newly trained coordinators to demonstrate dedication, professionalism and integrity as they begin work in their respective districts, expressing confidence that their contribution would be instrumental in achieving the goals of the Feed Ghana Programme and transforming Ghana's agricultural sector.

The 506 graduates of the Feed Ghana Brigade are expected to be deployed across the country's districts to support the implementation of the government's flagship agricultural initiative by working closely with district agricultural authorities and farming communities.

On his part, National Coordinator of the Feed Ghana Programme, Bright Demordzi, has expressed confidence in the readiness of the newly trained Feed Ghana Brigades to support the country’s agricultural transformation agenda.

Mr. Demordzi said the three-week training programme had equipped the recruits with both technical agricultural knowledge and essential leadership skills needed to strengthen Ghana’s agricultural extension system.

He explained that the training, organised in collaboration with the Ghana Police Training School and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Directorate of Agricultural Extension Services, focused on extension service delivery, leadership, ethics, discipline, teamwork, communication, conflict resolution, physical fitness and patriotism.

According to Mr. Demordzi, the Brigades demonstrated the competence, discipline and commitment required to work alongside Agricultural Extension Officers in supporting farmers and ensuring the successful implementation of the Feed Ghana Programme.

He urged the graduates to uphold professionalism, integrity and humility in their work, respect their supervisors, collaborate effectively with regional and district agricultural authorities, and remain dedicated to serving farming communities.

Mr. Demordzi noted that the commitment of the newly deployed Brigades would play a vital role in advancing the objectives of the Feed Ghana Programme, improving agricultural productivity and contributing to Ghana’s food security and economic growth.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith