This report addresses the legal, institutional, and social environment for doing business in Ghana’s agricultural sector. Through close examination of agriculture-related policies, laws, institutions, and social dynamics, this report aims to inform strategies and decisions by government institutions, donors, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), the private sector, and others with respect to developing agricultural enterprise and economic growth. From March 27 to April 7, 2017, a cross-disciplinary team of consultants convened in Ghana to conduct interviews across the agricultural sector. The team met with approximately 200 national and local officials; farmers and their associations; small, medium, and large agricultural enterprises; business associations; think tanks and other NGOs; educational and research institutions; the banking, lending, and investment community; donor representatives; and many others. Interviews took place in and around Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale.

This diagnostic culminated in a roundtable presentation and discussion in Accra on April 7, 2017, attended by more than 70 stakeholders. At the roundtable, team members introduced their preliminary observations, which were subjected to feedback and elaboration from the participants. This input helped shape the recommendations of the team, found in this report.