The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has officially launched the Ghana Agricultural Fund for Education and Transformation (GAFET). This national endowment aims to secure GHS 100 million by December 2028 to provide sustainable financing for agricultural education and develop human capital for the sector.
GAFET seeks to address a significant imbalance in Ghana's economy. Agriculture contributes over 20% to the national economy, yet only about 2% of tertiary students pursue agricultural programmes. Agricultural education institutions face an estimated annual funding gap of GHS 12 million, hindering their ability to provide modern training. The fund will pool contributions into a professionally managed endowment, with annual returns financing approved priorities across the agricultural education system.
This initiative is a critical component of the government's broader Feed Ghana programme. The programme focuses on ensuring food security through enhanced agricultural productivity. Investing in human capital through GAFET is seen as essential for the quality and sustainability of agricultural transformation. The fund will support practical training, mechanisation, digital agriculture, research, innovation, and faculty development.
Steven Nhyira Odarteifio, Lead Coordinator of GAFET, stated, “If Ghana wants to transform agriculture, it must invest in the people who will transform agriculture.” He added that GAFET would close the gap between classroom learning and the practical demands of modern agriculture. The fund aims to ensure graduates possess the technical and entrepreneurial skills needed for a technology-driven agricultural economy.
GAFET has already mobilised GHS 3.5 million in founding capital. It targets growing the fund to GHS 10 million by December 2026 and GHS 100 million by December 2028. The fund is expected to transition to a full endowment structure in the fourth quarter of 2026, with a governing board, fund administrator, fund manager, and custodian bank. This structure will ensure professional management and oversight.
The long-term success of GAFET depends on broad national ownership, including participation from the private sector, financial institutions, and development partners. Five Ghanaian-led agribusinesses—AgriSolve, GrowForMe, New Age Agric Solutions, Tradeline Consult, and Farmerline—have joined as founding partners. Farmerline has pledged capital and access to its technology platform, while GrowForMe committed to opening its crowdfunding platform to support the fund’s growth. This private sector involvement underscores the shared vision for a modernised agricultural sector.
Initially, GAFET will support 21 agricultural education institutions. These include five standalone agricultural colleges and 16 universities and technical universities. Returns from the endowment will fund practical training, mechanisation, research, innovation, digital agriculture, agribusiness incubation, faculty development, and scholarships. This comprehensive approach aims to elevate the standard of agricultural education across the country.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Honourable Eric Opoku, highlighted recent increases in funding to agricultural colleges. Funding rose from GHS 35,000 to GHS 100,000 per institution, contributing to a 35% increase in enrolment. This demonstrates a commitment to strengthening agricultural education even before the full impact of GAFET. The Minister called on commercial banks, pension funds, insurance companies, and philanthropic foundations to support the fund.
Secretariat Technical Lead Seyram Kofori-Ndinya emphasised the importance of the fund’s governance. She stated, “Our objective is to show how the Fund will be governed, so that every contribution made today actually outlives all of us in this room.” This commitment to transparency and robust governance aims to maintain public confidence and ensure the fund's longevity. GAFET is expected to become a permanent statutory institution established by an Act of Parliament, ensuring its enduring impact on Ghana's agricultural future.