Work

International Aid and Its Role in Shaping Agriculture Policy Narratives in Ghana

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: International aid in the form of development assistance helps developing countries meet their development needs. Aid is also used as a conduit to drive the interests of donor countries in recipient countries. In Ghana, there is a renewed interest from donors to drive agriculture transformation through investment in market-based policies. However, little is known about how development assistance is used by donor countries to promote their interests in the Ghanaian agriculture sector. This article draws on policy documents and interviews with policy actors and donor stakeholders to understand the processes and outcomes of agriculture sector policymaking in Ghana. Our findings demonstrate the ways financial, technical, and other resources are deployed by donors to shape agricultural policy outcomes. We further demonstrate how donors promote market-based solutions in the agriculture sector. We conclude by reflecting on the limits of these donor-led agricultural policies in meeting the needs of Ghana's smallholder farmers.

Source: Africa Spectrum

DOI: 10.1177/00020397251325868

Authors: James Boafo, Kristen Lyons, Senyo Dotsey

Institutions: Murdoch University, The University of Queensland, Politecnico di Torino, University of Turin

Language: English

Topic: International Development and Aid

Subfield: Development

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Partnerships for the goals, Zero hunger, No poverty

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4409075000

FWCI: 3.69

Cites: 50

Cited by: 2

Related to: 10