Dumelo Launches $87 Million Agriculture Programme to Support Youth and Women

Accra, Ghana - May 30, 2025 - Deputy Agriculture Minister John Dumelo has launched the Bridge in Agriculture Programme, aiming to boost Ghana's agricultural sector. The initiative provides affordable capital and technical support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), promoting inclusive and technology-driven growth.

Mr. Dumelo highlighted the program's importance in transforming Ghana's agriculture, focusing on youth-centered development.

He noted that, the program, backed by the Mastercard Foundation with $87 million allocated through partner banks, aims to support agribusinesses, particularly those led by women and youth, with loans at interest rates not exceeding 7%. It also includes extensive hands-on capacity building for beneficiaries. 

According to Mr. Dumelo, the initiative is expected to benefit over 400,000 Ghanaian youth, with 70% being women, aligning with the Ministry of Agriculture's "Food to Feed Ghana" program.

“Agriculture employs close to 40% of Ghana’s total workforce and supports about 75% of the rural population,” he stated.

“However, the sector still faces critical challenges including limited access to finance, climate vulnerabilities, inadequate infrastructure, and a slow adoption of modern practices.”

The goal is to transition young entrepreneurs from subsistence farming to commercially viable and technologically enabled enterprises competitive in both domestic and international markets.

Fanta Fandi, Programme Lead for the Bridge in Agriculture Programme, described the initiative as a flagship program of the Mastercard Foundation, providing partner banks with 0% interest repayable grants to lend to SMEs at a capped rate of 7%.

The program has already impacted about 86,000 young Ghanaians aged 18 to 35 with new or improved work opportunities, offering vocational and digital skills training and connecting them to dignified employment opportunities.

Implemented through a partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and CrossBoundary Advisory, the program aims to deliver lasting impact in Ghana's agriculture sector.

Source: Lead News Online