Renowned financial economist and agribusiness advocate Dr Peter Kwesi Terkper has officially announced his plans for the National President position of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF).

His declaration, made during a strategic meeting with the Greater Accra Regional Executives of the Association, signals a determined effort to inject modern business acumen and robust welfare systems into an industry that forms the bedrock of the economy.

Dr. Terkper's candidacy comes at a critical juncture for Ghanaian agriculture, a sector that contributes significantly, around 20-21%, to the nation's Gross Domestic Product and employs over 40% of its workforce, predominantly smallholder farmers and artisanal fisherfolk.

GNAFF, as a leading umbrella organisation, represents the interests of millions of these producers across Ghana's 16 regions.

Addressing the regional executives, Dr. Terkper articulated his motivation as a profound call to duty, emphasising a personal commitment to elevate GNAFF and profoundly improve the livelihoods of its members.

His guiding principle, he stated, is to leave any position better than he found it: "When you take a decision to lead in any capacity, you must ensure you leave the position in a better shape than you found it."

A cornerstone of his ambitious campaign is the introduction of comprehensive pension and healthcare support for Ghana's ageing farmers and fisherfolk.

Leveraging his extensive experience as a board member of Enterprise Insurance, Dr. Terkper proposed a pioneering, tailor-made pension scheme designed to provide consistent monthly stipends and essential healthcare coverage for retired members.

He highlighted the collective power of their numbers, explaining, "After a certain age, farmers need something dependable. With our numbers, we can work towards our own pension scheme."

Beyond welfare, Dr. Terkper champions a bold shift from traditional, labour-intensive farming practices to mechanized and technology-driven agriculture.

He stressed the urgent need to make farming not just more profitable and less arduous, but also an attractive career path for the youth and other professionals.

"The days when people had many children just to work on farms are behind us. We must embrace technology to increase output and reduce stress," he asserted.

He actively encouraged professionals—from lawyers to doctors and civil servants—to view farming as a strategic investment, citing successful models in countries like Ivory Coast where remote farm management with agricultural officers is prevalent.

Dr. Terkper's detailed agenda for modernizing Ghana’s agriculture sector includes a comprehensive set of policy proposals:

• Establishing fair pricing mechanisms for farm produce to protect farmers from market volatilities.
• Implementing robust warehouse and buffer stock systems to mitigate significant post-harvest losses, which are often estimated to be around 20-30% for various crops annually, costing Ghana billions of Cedis.
• Introducing bill of exchange models for produce marketing to ensure timely payments and improve liquidity.
• Creating a dedicated Farmers’ Bank to provide low-interest loans and tailored credit facilities, potentially unlocking billions of Cedis in much-needed capital for an industry often overlooked by traditional financial institutions.

The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of GNAFF, Vincent Mensah, wasted no time in expressing enthusiastic support for Dr. Terkper's candidacy, hailing him as a transformative leader possessing the integrity and vision necessary to navigate the Association's challenges.

"He has personally committed resources to reactivate and support GNAFF. We need a leader like him to reposition the Association for sustainable growth," Mr. Mensah affirmed, urging nationwide backing for Dr. Terkper.

Currently serving as the Head of Treasury and Trade Finance for West and North Africa at Wilmar International – a global agribusiness powerhouse – Dr. Terkper brings a wealth of strategic leadership and financial acumen. His decision to contest the GNAFF national presidency has been met with considerable anticipation from various stakeholders across Ghana, who see his candidacy as a pivotal opportunity to drive meaningful and sustainable transformation within the agricultural sector.