Finance and Agric Ministries clash could create COVID-like effect — Bryan Acheampong

Former Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has cautioned that the growing disagreement between the Ministries of Finance and Food and Agriculture could have serious consequences for Ghana's food system if not addressed.

His comments come after the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) rejected claims by the Ministry of Finance that it had released GH¢1.677 billion to support the ministry's activities in 2026, describing the figure as inconsistent with official budget execution documents.

The dispute emerged after Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem announced during the launch of Ghana’s National Pact for Agricultural Transformation, Food Security and Employment (AgriConnect Compact) that the government had released GH¢1.677 billion, representing 85 percent of MOFA’s approved budget for Goods and Services and Capital Expenditure (CAPEX).

However, in a statement, MOFA stressed that while the Finance Ministry initially issued a Commitment Authorization on February 15, it later capped the ministry’s expenditure for the first half of 2026 at GH¢910 million through a First and Second Quarter Budget Allotment Letter issued on February 19.

Reacting in a social media post on Saturday, June 6, Dr. Acheampong stressed the need for close collaboration between the two ministries, warning that any breakdown in coordination could undermine food security and economic stability.

“Agriculture and Finance are the two ministries whose non-alignment creates the most dangerous cascading failures in a food system,” he wrote.

The former minister cautioned that prolonged disagreements could result in rising food prices and broader challenges across the agricultural value chain in the coming years.

“If the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Finance do not collaborate in 2026, noticeable food price challenges emerge towards the end of 2026 and into 2027, and the broader food system challenges in 2028 and 2029 are guaranteed,” he stated.

The Abetifi MP further argued that the consequences of such a lack of cooperation could rival the disruptions caused by major global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The effects of that non-collaboration could be worse than that of COVID or the Israel-Iran war," he wrote.

He urged the leadership of both ministries to put aside any differences and work together in the national interest, stressing that every Ghanaian would ultimately bear the impact of policy and implementation failures in the agriculture sector.