Agriculture budget falls short of Malabo 10% target, Journalist Nana Jantuah tells Mahama gov’t
Kumasi, June 15, 2026
Journalist, Dr. Nana Kwadwo Jantuah has called on President John Dramani Mahama and the NDC administration to increase budgetary allocation to agriculture to meet Ghana’s commitment under the 2014 Malabo Declaration.
In a public statement posted on Facebook on Monday, Jantuah, addressed the President directly: “Mr. President JM, you are a farmer. The NDC campaigned on resetting agriculture. Ghanaians expected action.” He argued that current budget data show Ghana remains below the continental target.
What the Malabo Declaration requires
Under the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation, adopted by African Union heads of state in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in 2014, member states committed to allocating at least 10% of public expenditure to agriculture. The target replaced the 2003 Maputo Declaration, which set the same 10% benchmark. The commitment is measured as a percentage of the national budget, not GDP.
Budget figures for 2025 and 2026
Jantuah cited figures from the 2025 and 2026 national budgets to support his claim.
2025 Budget: He stated that agriculture received GH¢1.5 billion out of a total national budget of GH¢279 billion. That represents about 0.54% of total expenditure, down from 2.2% in 2024. He referenced comments by former Food and Agriculture Minister Bryan Acheampong, MP for Abetifi, who described the 2025 allocation as “paltry” and warned it could contribute to a food crisis if not addressed.
2026 Budget: For the current fiscal year, Jantuah quoted analysis by the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, PFAG, a network of smallholder farmers. PFAG’s assessment puts agriculture spending at 2.18% of total government expenditure. That leaves a 7.82 percentage point shortfall against the 10% Malabo target.
Jantuah also noted a differing view from the private sector. Agri-Impact Group CEO Dr. Daniel Fahene Acquaye welcomed what he described as an increase to about 5% in the 2026 budget. However, PFAG maintains that even 2.18% is “grossly inadequate” to transform the sector and address structural challenges facing farmers.
Discrepancy in budget release figures
A key part of Jantuah’s statement focused on execution, not just allocation. He highlighted conflicting reports on how much of MoFA’s approved budget has actually been released.
He said the Ministry of Finance claims 85% of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s 2026 budget has been released to the sector. In contrast, Jantuah cited MoFA’s own update as of May 29, 2026, which indicated only 12.4% had been released.
“Farmers can’t farm on press releases,” Jantuah wrote, arguing that cash flow to the sector matters more than budget announcements.
Farmers’ challenges on the ground
The journalist said farmers in Kumasi and across northern Ghana continue to face operational challenges, including post-harvest losses, market gluts during peak seasons, and climate shocks. He argued that without increased investment and the timely release of funds, those problems will persist despite policy pronouncements.
President Mahama has publicly identified as a farmer, and the NDC’s 2024 campaign manifesto emphasized a “reset” of agriculture through increased investment, improved extension services, and better market access.
Government response pending
As of press time, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture had not issued an official response to Jantuah’s claims or the PFAG analysis. The 2026 budget statement presented to Parliament earlier this year projected increased support for agriculture under flagship programs, but did not specify the exact percentage of total expenditure.
Ghana has consistently fallen short of the 10% Malabo target since 2014, according to annual tracking reports by the African Union Development Agency, AUDA-NEPAD. Most AU member states have also struggled to meet the benchmark.
What happens next
Jantuah concluded with a direct appeal: “Align the budget with Malabo. Move agriculture to 10% of public expenditure. Back it with actual cash releases, not headlines. Ghanaians will judge you by budget lines, not speeches.”
Parliament’s Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs is expected to review mid-year budget performance in the coming weeks, which may provide updated data on actual spending in the sector.
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