The maiden edition of the Ghana Youth Agriculture Summit (GYAS) will be held in Sunyani in the Bono Region on May 22, 2026, as part of efforts to promote agriculture and agribusiness as viable pathways for youth employment and economic transformation.
The summit is expected to attract more than 2,000 young people from across the Bono Region and will bring together agribusiness professionals, policymakers, development partners, educators, and industry stakeholders to discuss opportunities within the agricultural value chain.
Organisers say the initiative seeks to reposition agriculture as an innovative and profitable sector capable of addressing youth unemployment, graduate underemployment, and long-term livelihood challenges.
Speaking ahead of the event, the Founder and Lead Convener of the Ghana Youth Agriculture Summit, Mr. Evans Kyere-Mensah, described the programme as a strategic national intervention aimed at harnessing the energy, creativity, and entrepreneurial potential of young people to strengthen Ghana’s food systems and drive inclusive economic growth.
Mr. Kyere-Mensah, an award-winning farmer, youth advocate, and member of the World Agricultural Forum Global Council, said the summit would focus on encouraging youth participation in agribusiness, innovation, and value addition across the agricultural sector.
According to him, the summit would also provide practical knowledge and exposure to opportunities within the agricultural value chain while equipping participants with skills needed to establish sustainable agribusiness ventures.
He explained that participants who enrol after the summit would undergo structured capacity-building and training programmes covering agribusiness development, value-chain opportunities, market access, financial literacy, enterprise sustainability, innovation, technology, and climate-smart agriculture.
“The goal is to equip young people with the practical competencies required to establish resilient agri-businesses and become active contributors to national development,” he said.
Mr. Kyere-Mensah further disclosed that the Bono edition forms part of a nationwide youth agriculture campaign expected to be rolled out across all 16 regions of the country within a one-year period.
He said the national expansion strategy was intended to ensure broader inclusion and equal access to opportunities for young people interested in agriculture and agribusiness.
Organisers expect the initiative to contribute to increased youth participation in agriculture, skills development, entrepreneurship, poverty reduction, food security, and sustainable job creation.
They also believe the summit will support value-chain development and strengthen economic resilience within local communities.
The Ghana Youth Agriculture Summit is being positioned as a long-term platform to inspire a new generation of young agripreneurs and reinforce agriculture’s role in Ghana’s economic diversification agenda.
