Deputy Minister of Agriculture, John Dumelo, has officially launched the Bridge in Agriculture Programme, a transformative initiative aimed at providing affordable capital and technical support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in agriculture and related sectors across Ghana.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, May 29, Mr Dumelo highlighted the importance of the programme in Ghana’s drive for inclusive, technology-driven, and youth-centred agricultural transformation.
He expressed the government’s appreciation to the Mastercard Foundation for its bold vision and commitment to creating dignified and fulfilling employment opportunities for young people across Africa.
“Agriculture employs close to 40% of Ghana’s total workforce and supports about 75% of the rural population,” he stated.
“However, the sector still faces critical challenges including limited access to finance, climate vulnerabilities, inadequate infrastructure, and a slow adoption of modern practices.”
He noted that the Bridge in Agriculture Programme is a strategic breakthrough, with $87 million allocated through partner banks to support agribusinesses, particularly those led by women and youth. Loans under the programme will be offered at interest rates not exceeding 7%, with extensive hands-on capacity building for beneficiaries.
The initiative is expected to benefit over 400,000 Ghanaian youth, 70% of whom will be women, and is aligned with the Ministry of Agriculture’s “Food to Feed Ghana” programme. The goal is to transition young entrepreneurs from subsistence farming to commercially viable and technologically enabled enterprises that are competitive in both domestic and international markets.
Encouraging the youth, Mr Dumelo advised, “Start small, grow gradually, and you will become bigger one day.”
Fanta Fandi, Programme Lead for the Bridge in Agriculture Programme, described it as a flagship initiative of the Mastercard Foundation developed in 2023.
She explained that the Foundation is providing partner banks with 0% interest repayable grants to lend to SMEs at a capped rate of 7%, with embedded guarantees and additional funds to cover higher loan monitoring costs within the agriculture sector.
Fandi added that so far, the programme has impacted about 86,000 young Ghanaians aged 18 to 35 with new or improved work opportunities.
Business development service providers are also training participants in vocational and digital skills and connecting them to dignified employment opportunities.
The programme is being implemented through a partnership between the Mastercard Foundation and CrossBoundary Advisory, which leads a consortium of ten partners. The consortium includes Africa Skills Hub and iBuilders Africa (business development providers), Peswa (a technology provider), and other strategic partners working to deliver lasting impact in Ghana’s agriculture sector.
