Removal of import duty on agricultural machinery, a boost to agri-sector growth -GNAFF Lauds Prez Mahama
By: Isaac Boamah Darko
The Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) has welcomed the government’s decision to waive import duties on agricultural processing machinery, describing it as a significant step toward modernising the sector and improving productivity.
Announcing the policy at the inaugural National Agribusiness Dialogue in Accra, President John Dramani Mahama said the waiver aims to lower production costs and accelerate private investment in agro-processing.
“In the short term, import duties on agri-processing machinery will be waived to reduce costs and incentivise local processing,” President Mahama said. “This will enhance efficiency, improve technology uptake, and stimulate private sector investment.”
He added that the medium- to long-term strategy involves strengthening domestic capacity to fabricate and supply agri-processing equipment through targeted support for local manufacturers.
Sector sources indicate that the waiver will apply to a range of equipment, including tractors, harvesters, planters, irrigation systems, and other agro-processing machinery, though details on implementation timelines and eligibility criteria are yet to be confirmed.
Reacting to the announcement, GNAFF described the decision as “bold and progressive” in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu II.
“This policy marks a significant milestone in the advancement of agriculture and fisheries in Ghana,” the statement read. “It comes at a crucial time when farmers and fisherfolk are calling for greater access to affordable and efficient farming tools, equipment, and mechanised services.”
GNAFF said the move could lower production costs, boost productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, and promote value addition, key challenges in a sector that contributes about 20 percent of Ghana’s GDP and employs over a third of the population. Post-harvest losses alone are estimated at around US$2 billion annually, largely due to inadequate processing and storage facilities.
The association also welcomed the government’s plan to establish 11 agricultural mechanisation service centres equipped with over 600 machines under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, saying it will benefit farmers beyond importers and businesses.
Additionally, it praised the revival of the GRATIS Foundation—a public institution that supports local machinery fabrication, as aligning with the broader goal of building a self-reliant and job-creating agriculture sector.