-Repay Massive ECOWAS Food Debt
By Gifty Boateng
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has stepped up to settle a colossal debt owed to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) – a debt that originated under the previous Akufo-Addo administration and has hung like a dark cloud over the nation.
The military, known for its might on the battlefield, is now flexing its agricultural muscles, vowing to repay a staggering 27,000 tons of maize and rice using produce from its own farms.
This unprecedented move is part of the government’s ambitious Institutional Farming project, a key component of the recently launched Feed Ghana initiative.
The “Feed Ghana” program, a cornerstone promise of the current administration, aims to revolutionize agriculture, bolster national food security, and drive economic transformation.
Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, revealed the groundbreaking commitment, stating he received firm assurances from his counterpart, Defence Minister Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, that the GAF would make good on the debt “in no time.”
“They are farming. Feed Ghana, we have called them, I will commend my brother Dr. Omane Boamah. When I spoke to him he said Eric, every debt we owe ECOWAS when it comes to food, myself and Ghanaian soldiers will produce to settle it,” Opoku disclosed during an interview on Onua Television’s “Maakye” program with Captain Smart.
He added, “I thought he was playing but he brought the soldiers for discussion with Feed Ghana. For this year, they are doing 100 acres of maize and all things they are embarking on, it is no joke. What is left now is for me to visit their farms between July [and] August to see for myself.”
Opoku confirmed that his ministry has already provided the Army with all necessary inputs to achieve this ambitious vision.
The military isn’t going it alone. The Agric Minister disclosed that other key institutions, including the Prison Service and the National Service Scheme, have also joined the farming revolution and are receiving crucial support.
“Prison Service too is on board and it is serious. The story of National Service is mind blowing. The poultry farm has been enlarged this year and as a ministry, we have given them feed for chicks.
We have also provided them with fertilizer and all the institutions taking part in this initiative, we are supporting them with inputs that can enhance their production,” Opoku explained.
He urged other entities, particularly churches, to join the initiative, highlighting the myriad benefits awaiting them.
The minister stressed that “Feed Ghana” is not merely about food security; it’s a lucrative revenue generation venture, with the government prepared to purchase all produce after harvests.
“What we are saying is that the churches in Ghana must also join to help produce enough for consumption,” he added.
The issue of Ghana’s outstanding debt to ECOWAS first came to light when Minister Opoku publicly addressed it during the launch of the “Feed Ghana” Programme on April 12, 2025.
Ghana, in a moment of desperation, sought food assistance from the sub-regional body in 2018, begging for rice and maize to tackle severe food security challenges. Years later, the chickens have come home to roost, with ECOWAS leaders making direct appeals for repayment.
“They said Ghana owes them rice and maize of about 27,000 tons, which we borrowed in 2018, and that they are asking that we refund it,” Opoku recounted.
He revealed that he has successfully negotiated a one-year grace period on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, a crucial window to mobilize the necessary quantities for repayment without compromising domestic food needs.
“Once we commence the Feed Ghana initiative, we will come and repay the loan in one year’s time,” Opoku affirmed.
The “Feed Ghana” Programme, a flagship initiative, is geared towards modernizing agriculture, bolstering food security, and driving economic transformation.
At its launch in April, President Mahama hailed it as a vital component of his Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), designed to create jobs, combat food inflation, and enhance livelihoods through sustainable agricultural practices.