An 82-year-old cocoa and mango farmer, Opanyin Abraham Kwaku Adusei, has been named Ghana’s Overall Best National Farmer for 2025, becoming the oldest person ever to win the prestigious honour.
The announcement was made at the 41st National Farmers’ Day celebration held in Ho, Volta Region, where President John Mahama and other dignitaries led the ceremony.
Mr Adusei, from Kwahu Afram Plains South District in the Eastern Region, has been farming for more than four decades. He cultivates more than 1,000 acres of cocoa, 300 acres of mango, and several other crops including cashew and plantain.
Organisers said he was recognised for his “sustained productivity, large-scale mechanised operations and contribution to community development”.
For his achievement, he received a prize package worth more than GHC1.2 million — including a brand-new tractor and implements, a power tiller, motorised sprayers, and a range of farm tools.
“This is the proudest day of my life,” Mr Adusei said.
“Farming has given me everything, and I thank God that Ghana continues to honour its farmers.”
The first runner-up, Osman Kadiri from the Greater Accra Region, and second runner-up, Charles Gyato from the Oti Region, also received cash prizes and farming equipment.
Awards were also given to outstanding women, youth, livestock, and fish farmers, as well as to cooperatives and agribusiness innovators.
Each category winner received tractors, tricycles, sprayers, and other farm tools as part of the government’s ongoing support for mechanised agriculture.
This year’s celebration was held under the theme “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future”, highlighting the government’s renewed focus on food security and agricultural innovation.
Agriculture Minister, Eric Opoku praised farmers for their resilience in the face of climate challenges and rising production costs.
“Our farmers remain the backbone of Ghana’s economy,” he said. “Today we celebrate not just their success, but their endurance and their innovation.”
The National Farmers’ Day, established in 1985, recognises the contributions of farmers and fishers to Ghana’s economy. Agriculture employs about 30% of the country’s workforce and remains a key driver of rural livelihoods.
This year’s event in Ho drew thousands of farmers, students, and agribusiness representatives.
Analysts say honouring both veteran and young farmers signals Ghana’s effort to bridge generational gaps in agriculture, promote mechanisation, and inspire youth participation.
“At 82, Mr Adusei is a symbol of persistence,” one agricultural expert told journalists. “But the younger winners show that Ghana’s farming future is in good hands.”
