…Donation ahead of 42nd National Farmers’ Day puts ‘Economic Mobilisation’ campaign promise into action
Comrade Steven Nhyira Odarteifio, an aspirant for the position of National Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has donated 1,000 bags of 10-kilogramme organic fertiliser to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to support the recognition and reward of young farmers at the 42nd National Farmers’ Day celebration. The fertiliser will be presented to deserving young farmers during the national celebration scheduled for Sunyani on December 4, 2026.
Presenting the items in Accra, Comrade Odarteifio said the contribution was inspired by the efforts of individuals and organisations supporting the annual celebration, as well as the need to recognise young people whose work sustains the country’s agricultural sector. “We have seen many patriots across our country coming forward, taking the initiative and contributing whatever they can to support the organisation and provide the resources needed to reward our thousands of farmers across the country. They are the reason we are standing here energetic and strong today,” he said.
He explained that he wanted young farmers to feel recognised and supported, particularly as they continued to contribute to food production and agricultural development. “I thought it would be great to pull a few resources together and contribute some organic fertiliser for young people in the sector who will be recognised on the day. It is important that they know their Ministry, in partnership with citizens, is thinking about them and appreciates the hard work they put in throughout the year,” he added.
Receiving the donation, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. John Dumelo, who serves as Chairman of the National Farmers’ Day Celebration Committee, expressed appreciation to Comrade Odarteifio on behalf of the Ministry and the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku. He described the contribution as timely, given the need to mobilise adequate prizes for the farmers being recognised. “It has come at a timely moment because we need more prizes to give to the farmers. We will put it to good use; it is going directly to the farmers,” he said.
The donation reflects the central thrust of Comrade Odarteifio’s campaign for National Youth Organiser, launched in Accra on September 14, 2026, under the theme ‘Economic Mobilisation’. His campaign advocates a more practical approach to youth mobilisation, arguing that the NDC Youth Wing must move beyond election-period mobilisation to consistently connect young people with economic opportunities between elections.
Under the platform, he has identified access to capital, skills development, enterprise, agriculture, technology and markets as key areas through which young people can achieve economic advancement. He has also pledged to help economically impact an additional one million young Ghanaians before the end of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
Agriculture features prominently in the campaign, with Comrade Odarteifio advocating targeted interventions to make the sector more attractive and commercially viable for young people. Among his proposals is a dedicated irrigation fund to enable young farmers, particularly in northern Ghana, to cultivate throughout the year rather than depend predominantly on seasonal rainfall.
“Agriculture must become one of the most attractive pathways to economic independence for young people. We cannot continue to speak about youth unemployment without deliberately connecting our young people to productive opportunities in farming, agribusiness, processing and agricultural technology. Economic mobilisation means ensuring that young people have the resources and support to turn their ideas and potential into viable enterprises,” he said.
The fertiliser donation represents an early demonstration of his campaign’s emphasis on translating economic mobilisation into practical support for young people and productive sectors of the economy.
About Comrade Steven Nhyira Odarteifio
Comrade Steven Nhyira Odarteifio is a development finance, agribusiness and food systems specialist with more than a decade of experience spanning investment banking, management consulting, public-sector development and agricultural transformation. He has served as Head of Food Systems at the World Food Programme (WFP) in Ghana, where he coordinated donor-funded initiatives aimed at reducing inefficiencies across agricultural value chains.
Previously, he was Senior Consultant and Advisor to the Ministry of Finance’s US$50 million Ghana CARES agricultural programme. In that capacity, he developed the business case and investment appraisal that secured initial funding for the 10,000-acre Southern Economic Enclave rice project at Kasunya.
He is also Lead Coordinator of the Ghana Agricultural Fund for Education and Transformation (GAFET), a national endowment launched by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to equip agricultural training institutions. He is an alumnus of Ashesi University. He is contesting the position of National Youth Organiser of the NDC on an ‘Economic Mobilisation’ platform, which seeks to connect young people to sustainable economic opportunities and productive enterprise.
