President John Dramani Mahama has urged young people to venture into agriculture, describing the sector as a key driver of the country’s future growth.

Speaking at the maiden Ghana Agrotech Fair 2026 in Accra, he said agriculture should no longer be seen as a preserve of the elderly but as a modern, innovation-driven industry with strong opportunities for youth.

“For young people, agriculture is not a sector of the past; it is one of the frontiers of our future,” he said.

Despite employing over 30 percent of the workforce and contributing about 20–30 percent of GDP, youth participation in agriculture remains low.

A 2021 Heifer International report estimates that only about five percent of Ghanaian youth are engaged in the sector, largely due to limited access to land, finance and training.

President Mahama said this gap presents opportunities, noting that modern agriculture requires skills in engineering, data science, software development, logistics and innovation.

He called on financial institutions and investors to support agrotech, urging that it be developed into a bankable and scalable industry.

He also tasked research institutions to translate innovations into practical solutions for farmers and agribusinesses.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Export-Import Bank (GEXIM), Sylvester Adinam Mensah, said the fair aims to connect farmers, agribusinesses, investors and policymakers around local solutions to improve productivity across the value chain.

He noted that agriculture’s transformation now spans technology, manufacturing and entrepreneurship, making it more attractive to young people.

He added that the fair is intended to become a recurring national platform to promote investment and innovation.

The three-day event, organised by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry in collaboration with GEXIM, is expected to drive investment, enhance visibility of local innovations and support export-led industrialisation.