Amanokrom Akuapem buzzed with anticipation on Saturday, February 15, 2025, as local Member of Parliament Sammi Awuku unveiled the Ofie Market, a monthly initiative designed to reshape the region’s agricultural economy.
The market, set to operate once a month, aims to connect farmers directly with consumers, bypassing costly intermediaries while slashing post-harvest losses that have long plagued small-scale producers.
Speaking at the launch, Awuku emphasized the initiative’s dual purpose: stabilizing food prices for buyers and ensuring fairer profits for farmers. “When middlemen control the supply chain, everyone loses except them,” he stated. “Ofie Market is about restoring power to the hands of those who grow our food and the families who rely on it.” The first market day is slated for March 29, 2025, with expectations of attracting buyers from Accra and neighboring regions seeking fresh produce at competitive farm-gate prices.
The project arrives alongside broader infrastructure and financial commitments. Awuku disclosed ongoing negotiations with banks to roll out interest-free loans for farmers and traders, enabling investments in fertilizers, equipment, and high-yield seedlings. Road rehabilitation projects linking key farming hubs like Mangoase, Adawso, and Larteh are also underway, addressing a critical pain point for farmers who often watch their crops spoil on rutted, impassable routes.
Beyond immediate economic relief, the MP outlined long-term agricultural ventures, including a coconut plantation to supply Ghana’s booming oil and beverage industries and a cassava processing plant to produce higher-value goods like flour and starch. These projects, he argued, will create jobs for youth in processing and logistics while insulating farmers from price volatility.
Education and social welfare also featured prominently in Awuku’s vision. A proposed teachers’ welfare fund and a partnership with a U.S.-based organization to expand school meal programs aim to bolster classroom outcomes. “Full stomachs make focused minds,” he remarked, noting that four additional schools will soon join the feeding scheme to combat absenteeism among low-income students.
Nana Osim Kwatia II, a local chief, praised the initiative’s potential to “rewrite the story of our farmers,” particularly lauding plans to subsidize transportation for goods. “For years, poor roads have stolen profits from our hardworking growers. This market isn’t just a place to trade—it’s a lifeline,” he said.
The event drew farmers, traders, agricultural officers, and community leaders, signaling strong grassroots support. Yet challenges remain: sustaining interest-free loans demands disciplined repayment, and infrastructure upgrades must outpace Ghana’s rainy-season road degradation.
As the March market day approaches, optimism mingles with caution. If successful, Ofie Market could serve as a blueprint for rural economic revival—a testament to the power of cutting out the middleman and investing in the soil, and the people, that feed a nation.
