The MTN Ghana Foundation has committed GHS1.2 million to a transformative agricultural initiative aimed at equipping smallholder women farmers and unemployed youth with modern farming skills to enhance productivity and livelihoods.
The intervention, which targets 160 smallholder women farmers and 140 unemployed youth, forms part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day under the theme “Give to Gain.” As part of the project, the Foundation will establish a model farm at Pantang Hospital in the La Nkwantanang Municipality to serve as a practical training hub for beneficiaries.
The model farm is designed to provide hands-on training in modern agricultural practices, with an initial cohort of 60 women farmers expected to benefit from advanced techniques to improve yield, efficiency, and sustainability. The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the La Nkwantanang Municipal Agriculture Department and Defarmercist, both of which are providing technical expertise in agronomy and capacity building.
Speaking at the launch ceremony at Pantang, Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana, underscored the Foundation’s commitment to promoting inclusivity and empowering women through agriculture. She noted that the project delivers on MTN’s promise to create a practical training platform that enables women farmers to adopt innovative farming methods and improve their economic prospects.
According to her, beneficiaries are expected to cascade the knowledge acquired to their communities, thereby amplifying the impact of the initiative. She further revealed that the first cohort of 30 unemployed youth is currently undergoing specialized training at the Vegetable Hub of Excellence at the University of Ghana, Legon Farms.
Lydia Aku Fiatuho, Head of the Agriculture Department at the La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly, commended the Foundation for the timely intervention. She highlighted the indispensable role women play in agricultural production, noting that they constitute more than half of the sector’s workforce and continue to be key contributors to national food security. She urged beneficiaries to take full ownership of the initiative and work diligently to ensure its sustainability.
The project also aligns with MTN’s broader strategic vision of leveraging digital innovation to drive Africa’s progress. As part of this vision, the Foundation is piloting smart farming initiatives with plans to scale them nationwide, while strengthening institutional partnerships to modernize Ghana’s agricultural sector.
In addition to the model farm, the Foundation has established a Vegetable Hub of Excellence at the University of Ghana in collaboration with the University’s School of Agriculture and Defarmercist. The facility is expected to serve as a center for research, innovation, and practical training in modern vegetable production.
Since its establishment in 2007, the MTN Ghana Foundation has spearheaded numerous interventions across health, education, and economic empowerment, delivering over 178 major projects nationwide. This latest initiative reinforces its commitment to empowering vulnerable groups and supporting sustainable development through agriculture.
