In a major boost to Ghana’s food security and youth employment agenda, the MTN Ghana Foundation has committed GHS 1.2 million to establish a modern model farm at the Pantang Hospital in the La Nkwantanang Municipality. Launched as part of the 2026 International Women’s Day celebrations under the
theme "Give to Gain," the initiative aims to pivot traditional farming toward a high-tech, sustainable future.
The project, spearheaded by Adwoa Afriyie Wiafe, Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer at MTN Ghana, is designed to equip women and youth with the "sacrificial sweat" and technical skills needed to lead Africa’s digital and agricultural progress.
1. The Pantang Model Farm: A Hub for Innovation
The foundation is partnering with the La Nkwantanang Municipal Agriculture Department and Defarmercist to provide specialized agronomic support. The goal is to move beyond subsistence farming to "Smart Farming" efficiency.
Strategic Impact Pillars:
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Women in Agriculture: An initial cohort of 60 smallholder women farmers will be trained in advanced techniques to maximize yield and efficiency.
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Youth Employment: A first group of 30 unemployed youth is currently undergoing intensive training at the Vegetable Hub of Excellence at the University of Ghana, Legon Farms.
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Knowledge Transfer: Beneficiaries are expected to act as "Agric Ambassadors," replicating these modern methods within their local communities.
2. Digital Solutions for African Progress
Aligned with MTN’s broader strategic vision, the foundation is piloting Smart Farming initiatives that integrate digital tools into the agricultural value chain.
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The Vegetable Hub of Excellence: Established in partnership with the University of Ghana School of Agriculture, this hub serves as the research and training nerve center for the nationwide replication of modern farming models.
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Ownership and Sustainability: Mrs. Lydia Aku Fiatuho, Head of Agriculture at the La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly, urged beneficiaries to take full ownership, noting that women already constitute over half of the agricultural workforce but often lack access to such transformative technology.
3. Context: A Saturday of National "Resets"
The MTN Foundation’s GHS 1.2M commitment arrives amidst a series of high-level "Developmental Resets" observed across Ghana this weekend:
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Economy: Ghana’s inflation hitting a 30-year low of 3.2% in March, significantly reducing the cost of imported agricultural inputs for these new model farms.
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Fiscal: BoG Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama reframing $13.8B in reserves to support credit facilities for the very SMEs this MTN project seeks to create.
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Diplomacy: The conclusion of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s state visit, during which he toured the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant, highlighting the importance of integrated waste-to-agriculture systems.
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Infrastructure: The Ewoyaa Lithium Lease ratification and the TGMA Xperience Concert preparations in Koforidua showing a nation balancing industrial growth with vibrant culture.
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Health: The April 15 launch of the Free Primary Healthcare Programme providing a social safety net for the farmers and youth being trained in Pantang and Legon.
The Bottom Line
The MTN Ghana Foundation’s investment represents a "Livelihood Reset." By merging the "Give to Gain" philosophy with smart farming technology, the project is ensuring that women and youth are not just participants in agriculture, but the primary drivers of its modernization. As the first 90 participants begin their training, the focus remains on transforming "smallholder" challenges into "limitless growth" opportunities.
