Deputy Minister of Agriculture John Dumelo has launched the $87 million Bridge in Agriculture Programme to boost youth and women-led agribusinesses in Ghana.
The initiative, developed in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, provides affordable capital and technical support to agricultural SMEs nationwide. Speaking at the launch on May 29, Dumelo stressed the programme’s focus on inclusive, youth-driven, and tech-enabled agricultural transformation.
“Agriculture employs nearly 40% of Ghana’s workforce and supports 75% of the rural population,” he said. “Yet, the sector faces major barriers, limited access to finance, climate risks, poor infrastructure, and low use of modern practices.”
Under the programme, loans will be disbursed through partner banks at interest rates capped at 7%, with hands-on training included. The initiative aims to support over 400,000 youth, 70% of whom will be women, aligning with the Ministry’s “Food to Feed Ghana” strategy.
“Start small, grow gradually, and you will become bigger one day,” Dumelo encouraged young entrepreneurs.
Fanta Fandi, Programme Lead at the Mastercard Foundation, described the initiative as a flagship project launched in 2023. The Foundation is providing 0% interest repayable grants to banks, enabling them to offer concessional loans while covering higher monitoring costs common in the agriculture sector.
So far, the programme has created new or improved work opportunities for 86,000 youth aged 18–35. It also integrates vocational and digital skills training and connects participants to sustainable jobs.
The programme is led by CrossBoundary Advisory, working alongside ten partners including Africa Skills Hub, iBuilders Africa, and Peswa (a technology provider). Together, the consortium seeks to build a modern, resilient agriculture sector in Ghana.
