MoFA Launches Ghana Agricultural Fund for Education and Transformation (GAFET) to Boost Skills

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in Ghana has officially inaugurated the Ghana Agricultural Fund for Education and Transformation (GAFET) to provide sustainable financing for agricultural education and human capital development. The endowment fund was launched in Accra during a ceremony attended by government officials, development partners, financial institutions, agribusiness leaders, and traditional authorities. This initiative represents a strategic move by the ministry to address existing gaps in agricultural skills and workforce capacity.

The core mission of GAFET is to equip the agricultural workforce, particularly young people, with relevant skills and professional training. By fostering a well-trained labor force, the ministry aims to enhance overall productivity across Ghana’s agricultural sector. During the launch, Minister of Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku emphasized that this fund is essential for the long-term transformation of the country’s agricultural landscape and for ensuring the sector remains competitive and innovative.

To begin its operations, the government has set a target to raise GH¢10 million for the fund by the end of 2026. According to official reports, GH¢3.5 million has already been successfully mobilized, representing 35% of the initial annual target. The ministry is now actively pursuing an additional GH¢6.5 million, which it intends to secure by December 2026 to ensure the initiative reaches its full potential in the upcoming academic and training cycles.

Minister Eric Opoku described the current mobilization of GH¢3.5 million as a credible and solid base for the initiative, expressing optimism that GAFET will attract continued support from both domestic and international stakeholders. He noted that this foundational capital will provide the necessary resources to develop the expertise required to modernize agricultural practices and improve food security in the region.

Looking further ahead, the Ghanaian government has unveiled an ambitious expansion plan for the fund. Authorities intend to scale up GAFET significantly over the next few years, setting a long-term target of GH¢100 million by 2028. This long-term financial commitment is designed to sustain comprehensive training programs and expert capacity-building initiatives, ensuring that Ghana’s agricultural sector has the intellectual and technical resources needed for future growth.