Accra: The General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) has emphasized the need for a transition in Ghana's agriculture sector that is worker-centred, socially just, and climate-resilient. To achieve this, GAWU advocates for the integration of just transition principles into the country's agricultural and climate policies, including the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP) and the National Climate Change Policy.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Andy Tagoe, the General Secretary of GAWU, highlighted these points at an event in Accra focused on ensuring a Just Transition in Ghana's Agriculture Sector. The theme of the event was 'Ensuring a Just Transition in Ghana's Agricultural Sector.' Mr. Tagoe stressed the importance of promoting social dialogue among government, unions, farmers, employers, and civil society to effectively plan the transition.
Mr. Tagoe also advocated for investments in green skills to ensure that farmers and agricultural workers receive training in climate-smart and digital agriculture. He emphasized the need to guarantee decent work and social protection for all agricultural workers. Agriculture remains a crucial part of Ghana's economy, providing food, income, and employment for millions. However, the sector faces significant challenges due to climate change, land degradation, erratic rainfall, technological changes, and market uncertainties.
The General Secretary emphasized the necessity of a just transition as the country moves toward a more climate-resilient and modernized agricultural sector. He pointed out that the goal is to ensure that no farmer, worker, or community is left behind in this transition, and to avoid creating new forms of inequality or poverty. Mr. Tagoe stressed the importance of placing people, workers, and communities at the heart of this change process.
Across Ghana, climate change is affecting lives, with farmers in the north struggling with drought and floods, cocoa farmers in the forest zones facing changing rainfall patterns, and women in smallholder farming lacking access to land, finance, and training. Many agricultural workers operate informally, without social protection or representation, facing urgent challenges.
Mr. Tagoe clarified that GAWU is not against change, but insists that any change must come with justice. GAWU is committed to advocating, educating, and organizing workers to be part of the transition process, engaging employers and government to ensure that transition policies protect jobs, improve livelihoods, and respect workers' rights.
He called on stakeholders to choose a future that is green, fair, and inclusive, aiming to build an agricultural sector that is resilient to climate change, driven by innovation, but rooted in justice. The General Secretary urged for every farmer and agricultural worker, from the cocoa fields of Asankragwa to the vegetable farms of Ada, to have a dignified place in the transition process. Through social dialogue, solidarity, and shared responsibility, Ghana's journey toward sustainability can become a journey of hope, justice, and prosperity for all.