‘Bridge in Agriculture’ program unveiled to Catalyze Youth, Women-Led Agribusinesses

A $87 million agricultural program aimed at transforming the country’s agriculture sector by empowering youth and women-led agribusinesses with affordable financing and technical support has been unveiled in Accra.

Dubbed ‘Bridge in Agriculture’, the initiative is backed by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented in partnership with CrossBoundary Advisory and a consortium of development and technical partners. It seeks to address long-standing structural bottlenecks in Ghana’s agricultural value chain particularly access to capital, low productivity, and limited infrastructure.

“Agriculture employs close to 40% of Ghana’s total workforce and supports about 75% of the rural population. However, the sector still faces critical challenges including limited access to finance, climate vulnerabilities, inadequate infrastructure, and a slow adoption of modern practices.” Dumelo said at the launch.

Targeting over 400,000 Ghanaian youth 70% of them women the programme offers capital at interest rates capped at 7%, coupled with hands-on technical training and capacity-building support. Funding will be channeled through partner financial institutions, supported by 0% interest grants from the Mastercard Foundation to ease lending risk and promote inclusion.

“This programme is a strategic breakthrough,” Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr John Dumelo noted at the launch, stating that the initiative was aligned with the Ministry’s broader “Food to Feed Ghana” policy which is aimed at shifting agriculture from subsistence to technology-driven commercial enterprise.

Encouraging aspiring agripreneurs, Dumelo said, “Start small, grow gradually, and you will become bigger one day.”

Fanta Fandi, Programme Lead for the Bridge in Agriculture Programme at Mastercard Foundation, described it as a flagship initiative designed in 2023 to unlock economic opportunities in agriculture for young people across the country.

“The Foundation is providing partner banks with 0% interest repayable grants to lend to SMEs at a capped rate of 7%. We’ve also embedded guarantees and additional funds to cover the higher monitoring costs of agriculture lending.” she explained.

So far, the initiative has supported around 86,000 young Ghanaians aged 18 to 35 through new or improved work opportunities, according to Fandi. The programme integrates vocational and digital skills training via business development service providers, creating a pipeline of investment-ready enterprises.

The consortium spearheading implementation includes Africa Skills Hub and iBuilders Africa (business development providers), Peswa (technology partner), and a range of strategic collaborators working to deliver scalable and sustainable impact across Ghana’s agriculture landscape.

With its focus on affordability, inclusivity, and innovation, the Bridge in Agriculture programme is poised to play a pivotal role in modernizing Ghana’s agricultural economy and unlocking new growth opportunities across rural and peri-urban communities.

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