The Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Agri-Impact Limited have forged a strategic alliance with the Millennium Development Authority (MIDA), sealing a transformative agricultural project initiative to create jobs for 38,000 young people in the rice value chain.

This significant collaboration aims to revolutionize Ghana's rice sector through the implementation of the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for Youth (HAPPY) Programme. The HAPPY programme is set to create jobs for 326,000 youth and persons with disability, produce 189,000 tons of food and reduce Ghana’s food import bill by over $200million per annum. It is being implemented by consortium of partners including NewAge, GEA, TechnoServe, Jobberman, Catholic Relief Services, NSS, MOFA, MIDA and led by Agri-Impact Limited which also serves as the Program Management Unit (PMU)

The formal contract signing ceremony, held in Accra marked the commencement of a four-year project that will extend its impact until May 31, 2028. The primary beneficiary of this ambitious initiative is the young women, young men and persons with disability in the Kasunya Economic Enclave Project, a vital component of the Ghana CARES "Obaatan Pa" Programme. Focused on the rice value chain, the project aims to operationalise 6,000 acres out of 10,000 in the Kasunya Region, fostering innovation, training, skill development, and implementation support.

The HAPPY project support will among others provide starter packs, land development, technical and off-taking services along the rice value chain. It will strategically be utilized to elevate the rice value chain and stimulate economic prosperity in the region. Collaborating with key partners such as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program (NEIP), 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, and Private Sector Anchor Farmers, the program is poised to benefit from diverse technical expertise and support.

The contract signed by Dan Acquaye, CEO of Agri-Impact and Martin Eson-Benjamin, CEO of MiDA with dignitaries including Ken Ofori Atta, Minister of Finance, and Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu, Board Chairperson of MiDA, in attendance, the ceremony symbolised a convergence of influential figures dedicated to driving positive change in Ghana's agricultural sector.

Mr. Ofori-Atta in his remarks highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration, stating, "This partnership signifies a major milestone in our efforts to boost agricultural productivity. The partnership agreement with the Mastercard Foundation and Agri-Impact, in conjunction with MiDA, will play a pivotal role in the implementation of the Kasunya Economic Enclave Project under the Ghana CARES 'Obaatan Pa' Programme."

The Minister emphasised the focus on innovation, training, skill development, and strategic support in the rice value chain.

"We are committed to leveraging this support and partnership arrangement to provide strategic interventions to actors, paving the way for increased job creation and a 20% boost in national rice output," he added.

Over the next four years, the collaborative effort anticipates remarkable outcomes, including the creation of 38,269 jobs, with 70% designated for women. Additionally, a projected 20% increase in national rice output, cultivation of 2,560 hectares of rice, and a substantial reduction in rice import costs, expected to surpass $45 million, underscore the programmes commitment to catalysing sustainable growth.