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-kilogram organic fertiliser to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to support the recognition and rewarding of young farmers at the 42nd National Farmers’ Day celebration. The fertiliser is expected to be presented to deserving young farmers during the national celebration, scheduled to take place in Sunyani on December 4, 2026.
Speaking during the presentation in Accra, Comrade Odarteifio said his gesture was motivated by the commitment of individuals and organisations that continue to contribute towards the successful organisation of the annual event. He also emphasised the importance of acknowledging young people whose dedication and hard work contribute to the growth of the country’s agricultural sector. He noted that the contributions of patriotic individuals and organisations play a significant role in mobilising resources to honour farmers across the country.
“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.
Comrade Odarteifio explained that he was particularly interested in supporting young farmers and ensuring that their contributions to food production and agricultural development were recognised and appreciated. “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 and the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, Deputy Minister John Dumelo, who also chairs the National Farmers’ Day Celebration Committee, expressed gratitude to Comrade Odarteifio for the gesture. He described the donation as timely, noting that additional prizes were needed to adequately reward farmers who would be honoured during the 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 assured. 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 expert with over a decade of professional experience across 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-supported programmes focused on addressing inefficiencies within agricultural value chains.
He also worked as Senior Consultant and Advisor to the Ministry of Finance’s US$50 million Ghana CARES agricultural programme. During his tenure, he developed the business case and investment appraisal that facilitated the 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 established by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to strengthen agricultural training institutions through improved resources and capacity development.
An alumnus of Ashesi University, Odarteifio is seeking to become the NDC’s National Youth Organiser on an ‘Economic Mobilisation’ platform. His vision is to bridge the gap between young people and sustainable economic opportunities by promoting productive enterprise, economic participation and youth empowerment.
