HOE AND CUTLASS OVER FRENCH AND OWOP”: WHY GHANA MUST RETURN TO THE ROOTS OF AGRICULTURE

 

HOE AND CUTLASS OVER FRENCH AND OWOP?: WHY GHANA MUST RETURN TO THE ROOTS OF AGRICULTURE 

By : Honeybrowne Okaakyire, B,Ed.

I find myself encumbered by a question that I believe every Ghanaian should be contemplating today: Why has the Ghanaian government and educational system forsaken agriculture and the study of agricultural science? Why are our youth in the lower grades engrossed in subjects such as “OWOP” (Our World Our People) and French, instead of acquiring knowledge on food cultivation, livestock rearing, irrigation systems, and the mastery of modern agricultural technologies? Just last week (7th August 2025), the 2018 National Best Farmer, James Boateng, has called for a complete rethink and restructuring of the country's agricultural sector. 

Having been raised amidst cocoa farms, maize fields, and backyard gardens, I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact agriculture can have. It is not merely a source of sustenance and income; it serves as the bedrock and backbone of every sustainable economy. Yet, the nation that once took pride in its cocoa farmers and food self-sufficiency now finds itself importing tomatoes from Burkina Faso and onions from Niger. Are you not astonished and disheartened? Don't be, that's the current reality in Ghana. 

From Cocoa, Gold to Tomato Shame

In the 1960s and 70s (according to history), Ghana was a formidable force in agricultural production. Cocoa exports thrived, farmers were esteemed, and food was relatively inexpensive and plentiful. Fast forward to the present, and one will observe imported chicken from Brazil gracing our markets, rice from Vietnam, and even garlic from China. This situation does not stem from an inability to cultivate these commodities, but rather from a neglect of what is arguably the most crucial sector in our economy; AGRICULTURE.

Let us confront the truth: Ghana is not a barren wasteland. We are endowed with fertile land, numerous water bodies, two rainy seasons in certain regions, and a diligent populace. Yet we find ourselves hungry, unemployed, and impoverished. Oh, Mother Ghana!

Education or Mis-education? : If agriculture holds such significance, why is Agricultural Science being systematically phased out from our educational institutions? Why are our students inundated with subjects such as OWOP that bear little practical relevance to their survival? What is the merit in teaching a child about “global warming” when they lack the knowledge of how to plant a tree or utilize compost?

While French undoubtedly possesses importance in diplomacy and trade within ECOWAS, let us be candid: how many Ghanaian students emerge from JHS or SHS fluent in French? How many ever venture into Francophone nations or employ the language in their daily lives? Conversely, a child instructed in poultry rearing, okra cultivation, or tomato irrigation could nourish their family, create employment, and alleviate Ghana’s import expenditure. We are adrift as a nation.

Case Study: The Death of School Farms

Tn the 2000s, the majority of Junior High Schools and Teacher Training Colleges boasted school farms. I recall my uncle recounting tales of how they raised rabbits, cultivated maize, and sold the produce to fund school projects. Was that not amazing?The Agricultural Science teacher was among the most revered on campus. My own experience in engaging with agriculture on our school farm in 2007 (Kwahu Tafo Presby JHS) was nothing short of exemplary. Was that not commendable? Let us revive our agricultural science programs in schools.

Today, most JHS students in Ghana cannot distinguish between a cassava stem and a yam sett. Agricultural Science has been relegated to the status of a “side subject,” lacking proper investment, practical fieldwork, and genuine enthusiasm from both educators and students. In fact, in numerous urban institutions, agriculture is scarcely offered at all. Where did we err as an agricultural nation? What are we utilizing our verdant landscapes for? Galamsey!

Who Killed Agriculture? 

Several factors have contributed to this deliberate undermining of agriculture:

Poor Policy Direction: Successive governments have failed to prioritize agriculture beyond political slogans like “Planting for Food and Jobs.” Where is the nationwide investment in mechanized farming, storage, and export channels? Where are the tractors and farm subsidies?

Urbanization Madness: Arable lands are being sold off for shopping malls, residential estates, and “one-man churches.” We have exchanged the hoe for high heels and the cutlass for concrete.

White-collar Mentality: Young people are conditioned to believe that farming is a pursuit for the impoverished, the uneducated, and the elderly. Yet, a visit to Israel reveals a vibrant landscape of youth-led farming. Why not emulate that here? Farming and farmers are unjustly stigmatized.

Neglect in Curriculum: Agriculture is poorly taught, inadequately funded, and rendered unattractive. It is no wonder that young individuals gravitate toward studies in "Political Studies," "Human Resource Management," and "OWOP" instead.

The Joke Called OWOP

Let me pose a question: What exactly is OWOP? Our World Our People is ostensibly designed to impart civic responsibility and environmental consciousness, yet many JHS graduates cannot elucidate the workings of water cycles or the origins of their food. Why not instruct children on safeguarding their environment through maize planting, compost recycling, or initiating a backyard garden? That would be genuinely empowering.

We profess to educate about “our people,” yet overlook the reality that a significant portion of “our people” are farmers. How can one teach Ghanaian history and culture without acknowledging how our ancestors thrived through agriculture and traditional farming implements?

French Over Food? 

No offense intended please, but I would prefer a child to grow up knowledgeable in poultry husbandry rather than in the conjugation of French verbs. Unless Ghana intends to relocate its population to France (sounds funny 🤣 but it's sad😭), I fail to comprehend the rationale behind prioritizing French over agriculture. Let us conduct a reality check: When was the last occasion that you employed French at the market? On your farm? At the hospital? In the courtroom? The average Ghanaian is likely to encounter French solely during a football match in France.

Meanwhile, Burkina Faso, yes, the same Burkina Faso we often deride feeds half of Ghana. They have constructed dams and irrigation systems that underpin dry-season farming, while Ghana’s agricultural colleges struggle for survival.

And the irony is staggering. Our very own agricultural colleges, the institutions tasked with grooming Ghana's future farmers and agricultural scientists are themselves grappling with hunger and food insecurity. Here are just five shocking examples:

1. Ejura Agricultural College in the Ashanti Region once boasted of vibrant student farms producing maize, tomatoes, and livestock. Today, due to lack of funding, students go days without proper meals, and their demonstration farms lie fallow. The college kitchen has even had to ration meals due to poor harvests and zero government support.

2. At the Ohawu Agricultural College in the Volta Region, students have protested on numerous occasions about inadequate feeding. Ironically, a college that should be overflowing with food relies on external food vendors and imported rice to feed its students. The college’s poultry farm, which once fed the entire campus, now stands empty due to lack of feed and veterinary care.

3. The Damongo Agricultural College in the Savannah Region, located in a fertile agricultural belt, is unable to sustain its feeding program. Students there recently raised alarms over the lack of vegetables and meat in their meals—most of their protein sources have been reduced to beans and occasional tinned fish.

4. At the Kwadaso Agricultural College in Kumasi (where my father-in-law schooled), several key practical lessons have been suspended due to logistical and food supply issues. The college’s demonstration fields are under-utilized because of a lack of tractors and manual labor shortages.

5. The Animal Health and Production College at Pong-Tamale, renowned for livestock training, is ironically struggling to maintain even ten goats on campus. Students pursuing veterinary training now rely on borrowed animals for practice and frequently skip meals due to food shortages.

This is the state of agricultural education in Ghana; a national embarrassment.

Ask Yourself These Questions:

Why can’t our universities produce irrigation engineers, soil scientists, and agricultural extension officers at the same rate they produce political science graduates?

Why don’t we have a national agricultural television and intensive radio programs to engage the youth in contemporary farming? We lack a national TV for farming because agriculture is undervalued compared to politics and religion, which attract more funding, viewership, and advertising. Private investors prioritize profitable content, while the government support for agricultural media is minimal. This neglect reflects societal focus on debate and preaching over practical, educational farming programs that could boost food security in Ghana. 

Why are national service personnel dispatched to ministries rather than farms?

Why should a child learn OWOP instead of dedicating time to a school garden?

Why does a farmer in Tamale have to compete with onions imported from Niger?

Time to Reverse the Trend

If we are earnest about diminishing unemployment, enhancing food security, and eradicating poverty, we must return to the fundamentals. We must restore agriculture to its rightful prominence.

I, Honeybrowne, advocate that every educational institution in Ghana, from primary to tertiary level, should mandate Agricultural Science as a compulsory and practical subject. And I do not refer to theoretical lessons from a dusty textbook. I envision school farms, seed banks, compost pits, poultry projects, irrigation systems, and authentic field experiences.

Let the children toil in the soil and learn the virtues of patience, nurturing, and sustainability. Let them nourish their schools and communities, reminiscent of the school farms of yore.

A Way Forward

Revive School Farms: Every basic and secondary school must establish a garden or farm managed by students and supervised by qualified agricultural educators, especially schools in rural communities.

Modernize Agric Education: Integrate technology drones, climate apps, smart irrigation systems into the study of agriculture to captivate youth.

Scrap or Reform Useless Subjects: Diminish the emphasis on OWOP, French Language and other redundant civic education courses to create space for food literacy, entrepreneurship, and sustainability training.

Rebrand Farming: Utilize media to portray farming as appealing, profitable, and contemporary. Highlight young, successful farmers on television and social media.

Invest in Agric Colleges: Increase scholarships, enhance tools, provide mechanization training, and facilitate industry internships.

Final Thoughts

At present, Ghana is on a trajectory toward a food crisis while our leaders engage in grandiloquent discourse in parliament. What will OWOP and French accomplish when there is no food to consume? What will "Social Studies" or "Philosophy" achieve when our youth face unemployment and hunger?

Let us cease the pretense. If Ghana aspires to progress, we must cultivate the land.

Let us teach our children to sustain themselves before instructing them in the French language and OWOP

Let us engage in farming before formulating policies.

Let us consider our needs with pragmatic foresight, not merely through the lens of academic credentials.

Sustainable Farming Practices

Implement organic farming methods to curtail chemical usage and enhance soil health.

Embrace crop rotation and intercropping techniques for improved yield and natural pest management.

Community Engagement

Establish farmer cooperatives to share resources, knowledge, and mutual support.

Encourage local markets and direct sales to stimulate economic growth within communities.

Government Support

Provide subsidies for farmers to access quality seeds, fertilizers, and equipment.

Invest in research and development for innovative agricultural solutions tailored to Ghana's climate and soil conditions.

Youth Involvement

Create agricultural training programs and internships to attract and retain young talent in the farming sector.

Integrate agriculture into school curricula with hands-on learning experiences to ignite interest and practical skills development.

I am Honeybrowne Okaakyire, and I declare unequivocally: Give us hoe and cutlass over French and OWOP.