In a decisive electoral victory, agricultural economist Dr. Abutu Kapori has been elected National Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF), securing 76 of 136 votes at the association’s July 12 congress in Kumasi.
The Savannah Region native defeated challenger Mr. Dawuda in a race that highlighted growing calls for agricultural modernization.
Dr. Kapori immediately outlined an ambitious agenda centered on unlocking northern Ghana’s untapped potential through irrigation projects along the Black and White Volta rivers. “This mandate begins a new era where Savannah’s fertile lands become Ghana’s food basket,” he told Yagbon News, emphasizing youth inclusion in agribusiness under the government’s Feed Ghana initiative.
The election reflects shifting priorities in Ghana’s agricultural sector, with delegates endorsing Kapori’s technocratic approach combining resource optimization, value chain development, and climate-smart practices. His victory carries particular significance for northern farmers long marginalized in national agricultural policymaking.
As GNAFF’s new secretary, Kapori faces immediate challenges including rising input costs, post-harvest losses, and global market pressures on Ghana’s staple crops. Observers will monitor his ability to translate campaign rhetoric about irrigation infrastructure and youth engagement into tangible programs for the association’s nationwide membership.
