USAID FtF Policy LINK Champions Inclusivity at Ghana’s 3rd National Seed Forum

To foster a more inclusive policy and decision-making system within the seed sector, the USAID Feed the Future (FtF) Ghana Policy LINK Activity sponsored eight stakeholders from the sub-national level to participate in the just-ended National Seed Forum held in Accra.

The 3rd National Seed Forum was organized by the National Seed Trade Association of Ghana and the National Seed Council, with support from USAID’s Ghana Inclusive Agricultural Transformation Program, the African Seed Access Index, and Policy LINK.

This aligns with the Activity’s broader goal of supporting an inclusive, multi-stakeholder, evidence-backed, and more sustainable policy outcomes for Ghana’s agriculture sector.

The eight represented their respective institutions, including the Widows and Orphans Association, the Regional Department Agriculture (RDA), the Sagnerigu Municipal Department of Agriculture, Batbak Services, and Tamanaa Farms from the Upper East, Upper West, and North-East Regions of Ghana.

The four-day forum, organized on the theme, “Facilitating the seed industry through knowledge, collaboration, and strategic planning,” sought to develop and cost a Seed Sector Strategy and Investment Plan for Ghana. Other objectives for the forum were to enhance seed sector stakeholders’ knowledge of their respective mandates to ensure the successful implementation of the Seeds Regulations, update stakeholders on pertinent seed sector issues, and provide an avenue for networking while strengthening business linkages through exhibitions.

In his address, Yunus Abdulai, Country Lead for the USAID FtF Policy LINK Ghana Activity, noted that the only way the country’s policy landscape can be changed and made effective is to ensure that all actors, especially those affected by policies, are involved in the design, formulation, and implementation process.

He further indicated that the Ghana Policy LINK Activity, since its inception early this year, has successfully engaged the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and other stakeholders at various levels to actively collaborate to move and shift the paradigm to a more inclusive, evidence-based, and transparent policy process.

Mr. Abdulai extended a hand of invitation to all stakeholders within the agricultural space to actively participate in Policy LINK’s activities and engagements as they work toward a shared goal of achieving sustainable, agriculture-led economic growth for the country.

“At Policy LINK, our approach is to foster inclusivity, and in the coming year, we will be supporting deliberations and forums like this, including an annual policy dialogue to really bring stakeholders together. Those forums and opportunities will be available for us to collaborate with you all to make sure we bring the issues to the fore and collectively find solutions to them,” he said.

Bringing a broad range of stakeholders together to develop inclusive solutions to some of the country’s most pressing policy challenges is a key aim of Policy LINK’s Ghana activity. The five-year project is supporting the government of Ghana as it implements evidence-based, inclusive development processes – a central focus of the government’s “Ghana Beyond Aid” initiative and pivotal to broad-based economic growth.

For her part, Amber Lily Kenny, the Agriculture Team Lead and FtF Coordinator for USAID/Ghana, said activities and happenings within the past year, such as Russia’s war in Ukraine and other global economic factors, have brought to bear the importance of food security for Ghana and West Africa.

According to her, with the proper financing, resources, and tools, Ghana’s significant potential of becoming the breadbasket for all of West Africa will be realized.

Ms. Kenny described USAID’s commitment to Ghana’s agricultural sector as “steadfast” and pledged more long-term support in the coming years.

“We want to assure the government and key stakeholders of continuous support by USAID even as we double down on efforts to ensure a vibrant and sustainable seed sector in Ghana,” she added.

The 3rd National Seed Forum was organized by the National Seed Trade Association of Ghana (NASTAG) and the National Seed Council, with support from the Ghana Inclusive Agricultural Transformation (GIAT) Program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) acting through AGRA, the African Seed Access Index, and the USAID Feed the Future (FtF) Policy LINK Ghana Activity.

Participants were drawn from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), research institutions, farmer organizations, seed companies, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). and development partners.

Resources

Read more about Policy LINK’s work in Ghana here.