In an effort to enhance agricultural value chain governance at the local level, a key stakeholder meeting was held in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. The event which was organized by the USAID Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience Activity (MSR), aimed to address challenges in agricultural governance across 17 districts in northern Ghana.
Speaking at the event, Samson Konlan, Enabling Environment Team Lead with the USAID-Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience Activity (MSR), explained that the objective of the meeting is to bring together local government actors and private sector stakeholders to improve the governance of agricultural value chains. The stakeholder engagement focused on validating the findings of an assessment of the effectiveness of District Value Chain Committees (DVCCs), which were introduced to strengthen agricultural governance systems at the district level.
According to the assessment, most DVCCs across the northern regions are weak, with only a few functioning well. This, Mr. Konlan noted, is a significant obstacle to improving agricultural practices and ensuring that farmers and agribusinesses benefit from government policies and regulatory systems.
“Strong governance at the local level ensures that all actors in the agriculture sector can work together efficiently, follow the right regulations, and make informed decisions,” Konlan added. “Without these mechanisms in place, policies are not properly implemented, leading to poor quality inputs like counterfeit seeds and missed opportunities for agribusiness growth.”
Dr. Michael Pervarah, a Lead Consultant for J.E Austin said the study revealed that while the governance structures of many DVCCs remained intact, with elected executives still in place, the committees had largely become inactive since the end of the NRGP.
“Most committees were no longer holding meetings or conducting monitoring activities, with only a few, such as the Garu DVCC, emerging as viable due to continued engagement and efforts to revive operations”, he stated.
He added that the study also identified key incentives and disincentives for private sector participation in public-private dialogue platforms. “It was found that private actors are more likely to engage in dialogue when provided with logistical support and when meetings result in tangible outcomes. Conversely, regular meetings without results or the infiltration of political influence were noted as major disincentives”, he indicated.
Dr. Pervarah was of the view that the findings will be a guide for further efforts by MSR and other stakeholders to strengthen the public-private dialogue framework and enhance the business environment in rural areas.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga
