Economic Association President Blames Agricultural Challenges on Lack of Credible Investors
By S.B. Amara
Vice President of the Economic Association of Sierra Leone, Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Justice Ganawah, has attributed the country’s persistent agricultural challenges to the absence of credible, well-resourced investors capable of transforming the sector.
Speaking on the Truth Media Morning Show, Dr. Ganawah said Sierra Leone possesses enormous agricultural potential, with vast arable land and favourable climatic conditions, yet continues to struggle to achieve food security because of inadequate investment and poor investor selection.
Reflecting on the vision of the late President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, Dr. Ganawah recalled his declaration that no Sierra Leonean should go to bed hungry. He said that aspiration could have been realised had successive governments sustained sound agricultural policies and prioritised strategic investments in the sector.
“Sierra Leone is richly endowed with fertile land, but the lack of credible and financially capable investors has continued to impede the development of agriculture,” he said.
Dr. Ganawah argued that many investors currently operating in the agricultural sector lack both the financial capacity and technical expertise required to make a meaningful impact. He urged the government to adopt a more rigorous vetting process to ensure that only qualified and capable investors are granted access to agricultural investment opportunities.
He further encouraged the government to identify and engage affluent Sierra Leoneans with the financial means to invest in commercial agriculture, saying greater local investment would help unlock the sector’s full potential and reduce dependence on foreign investors.
Commenting on food production, Dr. Ganawah acknowledged that domestic agricultural output has improved in recent years. However, he noted that many consumers still prefer imported rice to locally produced rice, largely because imported varieties are often perceived to offer better value for money.
He stressed that attracting credible investment, improving productivity and enhancing the competitiveness of locally produced food would be essential to achieving sustainable food security, reducing the country’s reliance on imported rice and driving long-term economic growth.
