Group CEO of Agri-Impact, Daniel Fahene Acquaye, has urged Ghanaian institutions to reimagine the role of National Service personnel (NSS), positioning them as valuable assets capable of driving innovation, productivity, and national development rather than relegating them to errands and menial tasks.
Speaking at the Grande Finale & Awards Night of the Young Agribusiness Professionals (YAPP) Program – Cohort 3, he described national service as a crucial “buffer zone” between graduation and permanent employment, and a platform that, if properly harnessed, can equip young graduates with critical skills for the world of work.
“Too often, when young people are posted for national service, they are seen as a burden. Institutions assign them to buy food, run errands, or move files.
But we at Agri-Impact see them differently—we see national service as an opportunity to build capacity, to mentor, and to allow these young people to become either employable professionals or entrepreneurs,” he said.
Over the past year, the YAPP Programme trained and mentored service personnel through orientation sessions, technical training, and field experiences, ensuring they developed both soft skills and industry knowledge.
According to Mr. Acquaye, this model has paid off.
He cited the example of three national service personnel deployed to manage a one-acre greenhouse farm in Dawhenya, who, within eight months, generated GH¢350,000.
“This proves that when given the right training, responsibility, and dignity, our young people are more than capable of delivering excellence,” he noted.
The CEO added that service personnel at Agri-Impact have gone on to play critical roles beyond farming—some now serve as marketing officers, IT innovators introducing digital solutions, and safeguarding specialists conducting independent field assessments.
“We are proving that young people, when mentored and trusted, can drive productivity, reduce imports, and contribute directly to food security,” he stressed.
Daniel Acquaye challenged both the private and public sectors to embrace this model of youth engagement, particularly in agriculture, which he described as Africa’s largest employer with untapped opportunities.
He urged policymakers to ensure postings are intentional and targeted at sectors where service personnel can make the greatest impact, such as rice, tomato, and poultry value chains—areas where Ghana continues to spend over $1 billion annually on imports.
“With deliberate investment, if 20,000 to 30,000 national service personnel are deployed annually into agribusiness, the country would see increased food production, reduced imports, and greater job creation,” he said.
The Agri-Impact CEO revealed that interest in agribusiness among young people is growing. This year alone, the organisation received over 1,000 applications for internships and more than 1,800 applications for drone training in agriculture.
“The narrative that young people don’t like agriculture is changing. We are ready to absorb between 1,000 and 2,000 service personnel annually and link them to relevant industries for national impact,” he affirmed.
The Director-General of the National Service Authority, Ruth Dela Seddoh, expressed appreciation to Agri-Impact and the Mastercard Foundation for their partnership in equipping young graduates for leadership in agribusiness.
“We couldn’t have had it any better than what they have done for us. With their support and our readiness to work together, the future is very bright. Congratulations to us. Ghana to the rest of the world,” she said.
The evening also celebrated the achievements of the 23 service personnel in Cohort 3, while recognising outstanding contributions from participants across Ghana’s agribusiness value chain.
In the Overall Best category, winners included: Calvin Adjei (Agri-Impact Limited), Francis Mbroh (Fresh Logistics), Emmanuel Osom (Technoserve), and Esinam Yanka (Catholic Relief Services).
Special recognitions went to Francis Mbroh for Innovation, Esinam Yanka for Leadership, and Abigail Sume for Team Player. A Special Group Award was presented to the Habanero Team from Fresh Logistics, comprising Francis Mbroh, Dennis Bamflo, and Edward Darko, for their collaborative excellence.
The YAPP Programme, a flagship mentoring and capacity-building initiative, equips national service personnel with the skills, experiences, and networks needed to become the next generation of agribusiness leaders.
