The Agricultural Development Bank PLC (ADB) has hosted its annual National Farmers’ Cocktail on Monday, December 1, 2025, in Ho to honour winners of the 41st National Best Farmers and Fishers Awards.

The ‘Welcome Cocktail’ is held to welcome the National Best Farmers and Fishers who have excelled in various categories at the national level, and at the same time, appreciate their hard work.

Addressing the award winners on behalf of the bank's Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director, Professor Ferdinand Ahiakpor, congratulated the nominees whose excellence has earned them national recognition.

Prof Ahiakpor, who described the evening as a very special evening for us to welcome and honour our distinguished, hardworking farmers and fishers, also commended the gallant farmers and Fishers for their relentless dedication and contributions to the agricultural sector.

Speaking to this year’s theme, “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future,” the DMD reiterated ADB’s strong resolve to support national efforts toward food security.

He highlighted the Bank’s goal of intensifying investments in climate-resilient farming, agro-industrial supply chains, and youth employment within the sector.

He stressed that the responsibility of ensuring food security does not rest on farmers alone. “It is a shared responsibility,” he said, calling on policymakers, financial institutions, agribusinesses, and the general public to work together toward sustainable food systems that will secure the country’s future.

The ADB DMD mentioned that apart from sponsoring the ultimate prize of GHS 1.2 million cash prize to the National Best Farmer, ADB also sponsors the National Farmers’ Day Forum and the Welcome Cocktail.

He announced that the Bank has further deepened its sponsorship in 2025 by donating an amount of GH¢200,000 towards the award to the National Best Fisher and an additional GH¢50,000 to the Best Second Cycle School in practical agriculture, in line with our mandate to support the agricultural sector.

 “Our sponsorships and association with these events over the years is a testament to our commitment to support farmers and an indication of our desire not to derail from our focus on our original mandate,’’ he added.

The General Manager in charge of Agribusiness of ADB, Kwame Asiedu Attrams, reaffirmed the bank’s long-standing commitment as the lead sponsor of the National Farmers’ Day Awards Celebrations, emphasising that the cocktail remains one of the ADB’s events for celebrating agricultural excellence and strengthening its bond with the sector it was established to serve.

Mr Attrams reiterated the bank’s commitment to support farmers and fishers with tailor-made products and services, which would make banking easier and better for them.

Deputy Minister for Agriculture, John Dumelo,  expressed his gratitude to ADB for its consistent and expanded support toward this year’s National Farmers’ Day celebrations.

He also commended farmers and fishers for their crucial role in sustaining the nation’s food basket, acknowledging that Ghana’s food security depends heavily on their dedication.

The event, held as part of the weeklong National Farmers' Day celebrations, served as a platform for networking among stakeholders in agriculture, including policymakers, executives, financiers, and farmers, among others.