The African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) has opened an operational office in Accra, Ghana.

The office was opened in September last year after AFAP’s official launch in Arusha, Tanzania. Richard Mkandawire, AFAP’s vice president said, “Opening our offices in Ghana is a symbolic moment for AFAP.”

“We are opening our doors to working with the different sectors of society to increase crop yields and creating food and economic growth in the continent,” Mkandawire said.

AFAP is dedicated to working with the public and private sectors to investing in fertilizer markets, with the goal of increasing crop yields among smallholder farmers.

Francis Mensah, the Ghana country manager said the onus is now on AFAP to materialise the dream. According to Mensah, agribusinesses and farmers have given AFAP a more than warm welcome.

“The positive reception we received in Ghana is humbling,” Mensah said, adding that government officials in the country have also expressed a desire to work with AFAP.

“There was a niche for what AFAP does,” added Mensah. “I cannot think of any other organization that works with the private sector to remove  constraints in the fertilizer value chain and make fertilizer accessible and affordable.”

AFAP strongly aligns itself with the Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme’s (CAADP) mission of using agriculture to create food and economic security in Africa.