Make agriculture a practical education tool, not punishment – Julius Debrah to GES

The Chief of Staff has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to make agriculture a practical education tool, not a punishment in schools.

Launching the School Farm Initiative at St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School in Accra on Friday, August 29, Mr. Julius Debrah explained that the program is designed to embed agriculture into the school system as a modern and dignified enterprise.

“The GES must ensure that agriculture is woven into teaching and learning, and learning not as punishment but as a practical tool for education. School heads and CHASS must provide leadership at the institutional level to make the farms vibrant and sustainable.

“This initiative cannot succeed without the full support of our teachers and parents. I therefore call on NAGRAT, CCT-GH, and all teacher unions to embrace this initiative,” Mr. Debrah stated.

He continued: “This is your opportunity to see farming not as punishment, but as innovation. An opportunity to prepare yourselves for careers and also to contribute to Ghana’s food security.”

The initiative, which falls under President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for agricultural transformation, aims to shift the perception of farming from subsistence and dependency to competitiveness and productivity. By making agriculture central to the school environment, the government hopes to inspire creativity, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving among young people.

Mr. Debrah said the School Farm Initiative is not merely about planting crops but about planting ideas that will shape the mindset of Ghana’s future workforce. He emphasized that agriculture must be seen as a strategic tool for development rather than a fallback for the less privileged.

He outlined the roles of different institutions in ensuring the project’s success. Government will provide policy and logistical support, GETFund will channel resources into infrastructure, and the National Service Authority will supply technical hands through trained graduates.

Importantly, he called on teachers to provide leadership in making the farms vibrant and sustainable, urging unions like NAGRAT, GNAT, and CCT-GH to see the initiative as an opportunity to mentor rather than a burden. Parents, he added, must equally play their part by supporting school farms as long-term investments in their children’s future.

“This project binds together education, agriculture, and youth empowerment. It is not a side project; it is a legacy project. Institutions, resources, and partnerships will be mobilized to ensure that school farms are not simply projects of today, but foundations for tomorrow,” he assured.

With agriculture forming part of the National Research and Development Agenda, the Chief of Staff expressed confidence that the initiative would be transformative if all stakeholders play their role.