The Ghana Fertilizer Platform Study
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Date
2021
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Abstract
This report presents outcomes of the IFDC-implemented FERARI program's Ghana Fertilizer Platform (GFP) study, which spanned the period from February 2020 to April 2021. Over the years, Ghana's fertilizer sector has witnessed development programs and initiatives attempt to attain improved livelihoods and food and nutrition security through enhanced use of quality fertilizers. Currently, the Government of Ghana (GOG) is embarking on the Ghana Fertilizer Expansion Programme (GFEP) with a five-year strategic plan (2020-2024). The GFEP seeks to galvanize stakeholder commitment and participation in the fertilizer sector sustainable growth and development agenda in the country. In this regard, FERARI undertook this study with the aim of aiding the process of establishing an effective, functional, and sustainable GFP. It is envisaged that the GFP would guarantee all sector actor representation and inclusion in Ghana's fertilizer sector growth and development agenda.
The study comprised both a desk review of relevant literature and interviews with 36 fertilizer stakeholder, producing a concise description of the current fertilizer sector situation (challenges, constraints, and opportunities). It also identified and compared the different formats of successful fertilizer and other sector platforms and associations beyond fertilizers in sub-Saharan Africa and analyzed possible GFP formats. Further, it identified the relevant stakeholders required for the effective functioning of the GFP, their interests in participating, and the possible goals for the GFP. Eventually in April 2021, it entailed fertilizer stakeholder discussions at a roundtable meeting in Koforidua for 24 participants, who engaged in open discussions and brainstorming on how the GFP would function and agreed on the GFP goal and format to ensure inclusiveness, transparency. and accountability.
The study revealed that evidence abounds on major fertilizer issues, such as in the law, regulations, policy, programs, the business enabling environment, and the value chain, requiring concerted stakeholder action and involvement in the form of a multi-stakeholder interactive mechanism (such as the GFP) in the Ghanaian context. Accordingly, the existence of the GFP, as endorsed by identified stakeholders, will greatly facilitate stakeholder interactions and dialogue to afford a synergy of efforts, effective fertilizer information exchange, collaboration, policy implementation, and coordination in addressing sector issues. Stakeholder discussions showed favor for a formalized and legally registered GFP, managed by a joint public and private sector leadership with inclusive stakeholder representation, clearly defined rules of engagement, and a strong secretiat for effective coordination and management.
The study recommends that IFDC FERARI and partners facilitate the dissemination and discussion of this report among stakeholders to generate more awareness, understanding, and decisive actions toward the realization of the GFP. Further, GFP processes should be well-documented to allow identification of areas for further research and analysis, particularly on organizational, behavioral, and socio-economic development and management among actors of the fertilizer sector. For realization of a functional and sustainable GFP, stakeholders should pay serious attention to the roadmap that emerged from the April 2021 stakeholder roundtable discussions. The GFP should stay focused, with clearly defined constitution, financial resource mobilization, and monitoring and evaluation strategies to generate value proposition for stakeholder participation and commitment.
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Fertilizers
Citation
Iddrisu, Y., P.S. Bindraban, W.K. Atakora, B.T. Aremu, P. Annequin, K. Kouassi, A. Fernando, R. Wheeler, and F. Gyasi. 2021. The Ghana Fertilizer Platform Study. IFDC FERARI Research Report No. 3.