Ghana Begins Reclaiming Lands For Commercial Agriculture

News in brief: Ghana is creating a committee to reclaim lands for commercial agriculture and research purposes, targeting encroached areas and trespassers to enhance food productivity.

The government of Ghana has begun moves to reclaim agricultural lands in the country for commercial agriculture and research, a local news report says. One of the first steps is setting up a nine-member committee to take stock of agricultural lands countrywide, in a bid to ease reclamation efforts.

The scope of the committee’s focus includes investigating encroached lands and the identifying the trespassers. They are expected to submit a formal report on the assessment within three months, around November 2023.

Additionally, the committee is charged with recommending appropriate deterrent and remedial action to address encroachment. Overall, they will help to boost food productivity in the country.

Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, stated during the committee's inauguration that the initiative would be significantly important in implementing the soon to be launched Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Phase 2 scheme.

Th scheme will provide 50% subsidy on the cost of inputs (seeds and fertilisers) for farmers. It also offers complementary services such as extension services and marketing.

Acheampong identified breeding centers, training institutions, state farms, and research stations as areas that are currently being encroached upon. He said the illegal activities of encroachers have seriously undermined government’s efforts to promote the development of agriculture.

Thus, the minister asserted the government’s resolve to put a stop to encroaching activities because the lands were acquired for the sole purpose of supporting agriculture.