Kennedy Agyapong
Presidential hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has unveiled an ambitious agricultural and industrialisation blueprint aimed at transforming Northern Ghana into the heartbeat of the country’s food production and agro-exports.
During a spirited engagement with delegates in Tolon, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant outlined strategic investments that, he said, would unlock the region’s economic potential through modernised agriculture, agro-processing, and international trade.
Cargo Export Hub
Central to his proposal is a plan to convert about 90 percent of the Tamale Airport into a modern cargo terminal, dedicated to the export of fresh produce to global markets.
“The Northern Region is geographically blessed for competitive export because of its favourable flying time to Europe,”
Mr Agyapong told the gathering. “From here to London is only five hours.
If we load vegetables at 11pm, by 5am they are already in the UK and European markets. We must use this advantage to create wealth for our farmers.”
Mechanised Farming
To support the envisioned horticultural export economy, the Assin Central MP pledged to establish a fertiliser manufacturing plant in the five northern regions — a move he described as a critical foundation for full mechanisation of agriculture.
“Because of the nature of your land, we must mechanise our farms. But before that, we need a fertiliser plant here,” he emphasised.
He challenged community leaders in Tolon to allocate 40,000 acres for a large-scale farming and processing project, promising visible results even if he does not become President. “Give me 40,000 acres and challenge me,” he declared. “Whether I win or not, you will see the farms and the factory I will establish here.”
Decentralisation
Mr Agyapong’s proposal aligns with his broader agricultural decentralisation agenda.
Earlier this year, he revealed plans to relocate the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Headquarters and allied agencies to Northern Ghana — a move intended to bring decision-making closer to the country’s agricultural heartland.
If implemented, this policy could reposition the north as the epicentre of national food security and economic planning, driving job creation, infrastructure development, and private sector investment.
Grassroots Support
Residents and local leaders who attended the Tolon meeting described Agyapong’s plan as “the most practical and ambitious proposal yet heard in the constituency.” Youth groups battling unemployment expressed optimism that large-scale agricultural mechanisation and export-led farming could become a game-changer for livelihoods in the region.
