Ghana is poised to become Africa’s first AI-powered agricultural hub following a USD 100-million investment from Degas Limited, a global agritech company. The announcement came after a meeting in Yokohama, Japan, between President John Dramani Mahama and Degas CEO and Founder, Doga Makiura.
The four-year commitment will deploy AI-driven satellite imaging and precision farming techniques to support Ghana’s smallholder farmers, who are central to the nation’s food supply.
A statement issued by Ghana’s Presidency said this would go a long way to expand a model that had already financed more than 86,000 smallholder farmers across 122,000 acres nationwide.
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Doga Makiura, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Degas Limited, said:
“Ghana has shown that when technology meets a clear national vision, smallholder farmers can thrive. Our USD 100-million commitment will scale AI-driven satellite monitoring and precision agriculture techniques so farmers can boost yields, reduce risk, and access fairly priced finance.”
Degas’s proven approach—offering farmers access to inputs, credit, and training—has previously doubled farmer incomes while maintaining a 95% loan repayment rate. By remotely monitoring farms at scale, the technology will enhance resource use, improve yield predictions, and strengthen value chains from production to market.
Reflecting on the positive effect of this investment on international relations, Makiura added:
“Many Japanese partners now consider Ghana’s integrated approach the gold standard for agricultural investment in Africa. President Mahama’s focus on value-chain integration aligns closely with Japan’s search for credible, scalable partnerships.”
President Mahama concurred, noting that:
“This investment reinforces our commitment to integrated agricultural value chains that connect farmers to markets, finance, storage, and processing. By leveraging AI and precision technologies, we will improve productivity, enhance food security, and create dignified jobs for youth across rural communities.”
This investment reaffirms the country’s status as an attractive investment hub and a leader in tech-driven agricultural transformation.
