Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Seidu Issifu, has called for a stronger focus on locally grown plant-based foods to improve nutrition, support farmers and make Ghana’s food system more resilient to climate change.

He said Ghana could make better use of its agricultural resources, including indigenous crops, legumes, fruits, vegetables, roots and tubers, to improve food production, create jobs and reduce dependence on imported food.

Speaking at a validation workshop on Ghana’s Draft National Plant-Based Food Systems Plan in Accra on October 28, 2026, he said the country must find better ways to use its agricultural resources to address food security and climate challenges.

He noted that agriculture, which supports millions of livelihoods, was increasingly affected by climate-related problems such as irregular rainfall, droughts, floods and declining soil quality.

“These challenges threaten agricultural productivity, food availability, household incomes and the stability of rural economies,” he stated.

According to him, these challenges threaten food production, household incomes and rural economies.

He added that Ghana also faced other problems, including pressure on land and water resources, environmental damage and the need to improve nutrition.

The minister said these challenges required a coordinated approach that linked agriculture with climate action, public health, trade, investment and environmental protection.

Ghana moves to validate National Plant-Based Food Systems Plan

“Our objective is not to impose dietary choices on Ghanaians. Rather, it is to expand opportunities, strengthen our agricultural diversity and make better use of the resources available to us,” he said.

The minister explained that promoting locally grown plant-based foods could help improve people’s diets, create markets for farmers, support food processing businesses and reduce the risks associated with heavy dependence on imported food.

He stressed, however, that the proposed plan must reflect Ghana’s local conditions and be guided by scientific evidence and the country’s food culture.

Seidu Issifu urged participants at the workshop to carefully review the draft plan and ensure it addressed the country’s development needs.

He said the final document must go beyond setting out goals and clearly identify practical actions, the institutions responsible for carrying them out and how the proposed activities would be funded.

“A national plan must be more than a statement of aspirations. It must clearly articulate priorities, identify practical interventions, establish institutional responsibilities and provide a credible pathway for implementation,” he said.

He also called for the experiences of smallholder farmers, women, young people, local communities and businesses to be considered in the final plan.

The minister outlined four key issues for stakeholders to consider: whether the plan supports Ghana’s development priorities, whether it is practical and can be implemented, whether it reflects national realities, and whether it provides a clear basis for funding and accountability.

He noted that government agencies, farmer groups, research institutions, private businesses and development partners would all have important roles to play in implementing the plan.

The minister also said the workshop was an opportunity to address gaps, clarify priorities and build agreement among stakeholders before the document was finalised.

He added that the success of the plan would depend not only on completing the document but also on its ability to improve access to nutritious food, support farmers, create economic opportunities and protect the environment.

JHM/AM