Techiman, Bono East Region – At the 2025 annual Brong Ahafo Women Co-operative Cocoa Farming and Marketing Central Union Limited (BAWCO) Festival, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, lauded the essential role women play in Ghana’s agricultural industry. The festival, held in Techiman, was themed “Nurturing Women, Cultivating Life” and focused on celebrating the contributions of women in cocoa farming and agribusiness.
Mr.Opoku emphasized that women form the backbone of Ghana’s agricultural sector, representing over half of the country’s agricultural labor force. He highlighted that women contribute to 70% of Ghana’s food production and make up 90% of the workforce involved in agricultural processing and marketing.
The Minister expressed strong support for the BAWCO cooperative, commending their efforts in promoting the economic empowerment of female cocoa farmers. In a show of solidarity, he donated GH₵40,000 to the Union to aid its operations.
Addressing Ghana’s position in the global cocoa market, Mr.Opoku acknowledged the country’s decline from being the largest cocoa producer to second place, but assured that Ghana’s cocoa remains unrivaled in quality on the international stage. He attributed the success to the country’s long history of producing premium cocoa beans.
Drawing on personal experience, the Minister shared that his own mother, a cocoa farmer, had played a significant role in funding his education, which further strengthened his commitment to improving the welfare and income of farmers through value addition.
Opoku also spoke out against the harmful impacts of illegal mining (galamsey), warning that the destruction of agricultural land and water bodies threatens Ghana’s future in farming. He assured farmers that the government was taking measures to address the recent food glut, with GH₵100 million allocated to the National Food Buffer Stock Company to purchase surplus food and reduce post-harvest losses.
The festival brought together a wide range of participants, including female farmers, cooperatives, traditional leaders, and industry stakeholders, to discuss opportunities for growth, value addition, and sustainable farming practices.
