A lifetime of dedication to farming has finally been honored with the prestigious title of Overall Best National Farmer for 2025, a recognition that celebrates commitment, innovation, and excellence in Ghanaian agriculture. After 55 years of tireless work on the land, Opanyin Abraham Kwaku Adusei’s award stands as a testament to the significant role farmers play in driving national development and ensuring food security.
Despite excelling on many platforms, including being named the best world cocoa farmer by the International Cocoa Organization in 2014, national recognition had previously eluded him. In 2022, after earning the National Best Crop Farmer title and passing stringent farm inspections, he still awaited the highest accolade. The 2025 award finally bridges this gap, celebrating a lifetime of dedication and impactful innovations that have helped shape modern farming practices in Ghana.
This achievement also brings into focus the wider challenges faced by farmers across the country. Michael Tetteh Kwetey, President of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF), has called on the government to implement a pension scheme for all farmers, highlighting the need to improve on the existing cocoa farmer pension program, which has been largely ineffective over the past eight years. Such a system would offer vital financial security to farmers once they retire, recognizing their lifelong contributions.
As discussions around farmer support continue, this story serves as a powerful reminder that sustainable agricultural growth depends not only on recognizing individual achievements but also on establishing broader support systems. Valuing and protecting the welfare of farmers is essential to advancing food security and economic stability in Ghana.
Source: Ohemaa Adusi-Poku