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 to take place in Sunyani on December 4, 2026.
Presenting the items in Accra, Comrade Odarteifio said the donation was inspired by the contributions of individuals and organisations supporting the annual celebration, as well as the need to recognise young people whose efforts continue to sustain Ghana’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 his decision to support the celebration was aimed at ensuring that young farmers feel recognised and appreciated for their contributions 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 on behalf of the Ministry, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. John Dumelo, who also chairs the National Farmers’ Day Celebration Committee, expressed appreciation to Comrade Odarteifio and acknowledged the contribution on behalf of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku.
He described the donation as timely, noting that additional prizes were needed to adequately reward farmers who would be recognised during the national celebration.
“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 message of Comrade Odarteifio’s campaign for National Youth Organiser, which was officially 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 activities and consistently connect young people to economic opportunities, productive ventures and sustainable livelihoods between elections.
As part of his proposed agenda, he has identified access to capital, skills development, entrepreneurship, agriculture, technology and markets as key areas through which young people can achieve economic advancement.
He has also pledged to help economically empower an additional one million young Ghanaians before the end of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.
Agriculture remains a major component of his campaign, with Comrade Odarteifio advocating targeted interventions to make the sector more attractive and commercially viable for young people.
Among his proposals is the establishment of a dedicated irrigation fund to support young farmers, particularly in northern Ghana, to cultivate throughout the year rather than depend largely on seasonal rainfall.
He believes that improving access to agricultural resources, financing and modern farming infrastructure will help create sustainable employment opportunities while strengthening the country’s food production capacity.
“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 is an early demonstration of his campaign’s commitment to translating the economic mobilisation agenda into practical interventions that support young people and productive sectors of the economy.
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 previously served as Head of Food Systems at the World Food Programme (WFP) in Ghana, where he coordinated donor-funded initiatives aimed at addressing inefficiencies across agricultural value chains.
He also worked as 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.
Additionally, he serves as 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.
An alumnus of Ashesi University, Comrade Odarteifio is contesting the position of NDC National Youth Organiser on an Economic Mobilisation platform aimed at connecting young people to sustainable economic opportunities, productive enterprise and long-term economic advancement.
