In a significant step toward enhancing food production and strengthening regional cooperation, EGTA Investment Limited, a Nigerian company, and the Ghanaian conglomerate Jospong Group of Companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The signing ceremony, held at the Ghana High Commission in Abuja, was attended by dignitaries from both nations and aimed at advancing various agricultural sectors.
The MoU focuses on bolstering the production of essential crops, including rice, wheat, soya beans, yellow corn, and sunflowers, among others.
This collaborative effort is seen as a means to address food security challenges in the region and promote sustainable agricultural growth.
The agreement was executed under the watchful eye of Alhaji Bello Goronyo, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, and Mr. Eddison Agbenyegah, Ghana’s Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria. Also in attendance was Mr. Aminu Goronyo, President of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN).
Mr. Bashir Ibrahim, Group Managing Director of EGTA, emphasized the importance of such agreements in promoting investments in agriculture. He stressed the need for increased investments to propel agricultural development in Africa through cooperative efforts, both financially and socially.
Ibrahim highlighted the historic friendship between Ghana and Nigeria and emphasized the significance of collaboration between African nations to foster economic and social growth.
He stated, “The future of Africa depends on this concept of cooperation, financial investment, technical, social, economic, political cooperation between African nations.”
The cooperation between EGTA and Jospong encompasses agricultural commodity production, technical support, financial collaboration, and training to enhance Ghana’s agriculture sector.
This agreement is one of several collaborations with foreign partners and reflects Nigeria’s commitment to utilizing the private sector as a key driver of economic diversification.
Mr. George Blavo, Lead Coordinator of the Rice Project at Jospong Group of Companies, Ghana, signed the MoU on behalf of Jospong. He highlighted the agreement’s alignment with Ghana’s agricultural agenda, aiming to uplift citizens from poverty through agricultural development.
Blavo emphasized the importance of adding value to the agricultural food chain, ensuring food security, reducing food imports, and engaging the private sector in these transformative efforts.
Mr. Agbenyegah, Ghana’s Deputy High Commissioner, expressed Ghana’s desire to learn best practices from Nigeria, a “Rice Super Power,” and stressed the significance of regional cooperation for mutual benefit.
He also highlighted that Ghana’s hosting of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat would provide an ideal platform to deepen cooperation and regional growth.
Jospong Group of Companies, a Ghanaian conglomerate with business interests spanning over 14 sectors and 60 subsidiaries, operates in both Africa and Asia.
This collaboration between EGTA Investment and Jospong is expected to contribute significantly to agricultural development in the region, addressing food security concerns and promoting economic growth.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Bello Goronyo, President of RIFAN, commended Nigeria’s remarkable progress in rice production over the past decade, surpassing Egypt’s rice production levels. This achievement is attributed to Nigeria’s ban on rice imports and its commitment to self-sufficiency in rice production.
The EGTA-Jospong partnership signifies a step forward in regional cooperation and sustainable agricultural development, underscoring the potential for mutually beneficial collaborations within Africa.
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