Beyond Bananas: How Golden Exotics holds a blueprint for Ghana’s agricultural transformation

Ghana's banana industry is demonstrating the potential of large-scale irrigation and private-sector investment to transform agricultural production, create jobs and strengthen the country's non-traditional export sector.

At the centre of this development is Golden Exotics Limited, which has established an extensive commercial banana plantation around Kasunya and Asutsuare in the Shai-Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region.

Operating on more than 2,000 hectares of land, the company has developed a year-round production system that relies on irrigation from the Volta River to overcome the area's limited rainfall.

The plantation employs about 4,000 direct workers and supplies bananas to both domestic and international markets, particularly Europe, making it Ghana's leading banana exporter.

The company's operations offer an example of how irrigation infrastructure, modern farming techniques and sustained agricultural investment can unlock the productive potential of areas traditionally considered less suitable for commercial farming.

Unlike conventional farming systems that depend heavily on seasonal rainfall, Golden Exotics has developed an irrigation network that draws water from the Volta River and distributes it across the plantation through canals and pumping infrastructure.

This allows the company to maintain continuous production, with dedicated systems for cultivation, crop protection, irrigation and monitoring throughout the growing cycle.

The operation also demonstrates the economic opportunities available in transforming agriculture from predominantly small-scale seasonal production into a commercially organised industry.

Beyond export earnings, the plantation contributes to employment creation and economic activity in surrounding communities, providing livelihoods for thousands of workers.

Could Ghana replicate the model elsewhere?

But perhaps the bigger question arising from Golden Exotics' success is whether Ghana can replicate this model in other parts of the country, using irrigation and commercial-scale investments to expand the production of other food commodities.

Ghana has considerable agricultural potential across its different ecological zones, with opportunities for large-scale cultivation of rice, maize, vegetables, soya, cassava, cashew and other crops.

Areas in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions, for instance, could benefit from investments in irrigation systems to support year-round rice, maize, soya and vegetable production. Similar opportunities exist in other parts of the country for commercial cultivation of cassava, fruits and other crops suited to their local conditions.

Replicating the Golden Exotics model would require more than making land available for cultivation. It would involve strategic investment in irrigation infrastructure, modern farming equipment, improved seedlings, storage facilities, processing plants and reliable market access.

Such an approach could help reduce Ghana's dependence on seasonal rainfall, which continues to expose farmers to production losses and uncertainty during periods of prolonged dry weather.

Speaking to Host of Foodchain on Joynews, Jessie Eyram Agbakpo, President of the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters Davis Korboe said Ghana has the needed systems and technical know-how to establish large scale farms of this nature to feed its people.

“If we create a replica of this in the 16 regions, it will be impactful but you need a lot of funding to do this in the 16 regions in the country. We have engineers all over, when you go to the Ghana Irrigation Authority, there are people with the technical knowledge to execute this”, he said.

More importantly, expanding irrigation-based commercial farming could help address persistent gaps in domestic food production and reduce the country's reliance on imported food commodities.

With more consistent production throughout the year, Ghana could strengthen its domestic food supply, improve the availability of essential food items and reduce some of the seasonal fluctuations in agricultural output that affect market prices.

The employment potential is another important consideration.

Golden Exotics currently provides direct employment for about 4,000 people. A wider adoption of similar commercial farming models across different agricultural zones could create thousands of additional jobs, not only on farms but also in transportation, packaging, processing, storage, distribution and export services.

This could open up opportunities for young people in rural communities, while stimulating economic activity in areas where employment opportunities are often limited.

The model could also strengthen Ghana's non-traditional export sector by creating opportunities to produce more agricultural commodities for international markets.

With the right investments in quality standards, post-harvest management, certification and market development, Ghana could increase its exports of horticultural products and other agricultural commodities, generating additional foreign exchange.

This would support the country's broader efforts to diversify its economy beyond traditional exports such as gold, cocoa and crude oil.

Balancing commercial production with sustainability

However, the scale of commercial production also raises questions about environmental sustainability.

Golden Exotics has incorporated measures covering soil management, waste management and biodiversity conservation into its operations, as it seeks to balance large-scale agricultural production with environmental responsibility.

Any attempt to replicate the model would also require careful consideration of water availability, environmental protection, land use and the needs of surrounding communities.

As Ghana intensifies efforts to improve food security, create jobs and expand non-traditional exports, Golden Exotics offers an example of what sustained investment in commercial agriculture can achieve.

If successfully replicated, irrigation-led commercial farming could help move Ghanaian agriculture beyond seasonal production, strengthen domestic food supply, support agro-industrial development and create new sources of employment and export revenue.

For Ghana, the challenge is no longer just about demonstrating that large-scale agriculture can work. It is about creating the conditions to make similar successes possible across the country.