The government of Ghana through its Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP II) has prioritized the development of value chains of food and other crops. Additionally, the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme recently launched by the Ghanaian government responds to some production, processing and marketing concerns of the agriculture sector of the economy. The ILO’s “Strengthening the Employment Impact of Sectoral and Trade Policies” (STRENGTHEN) is situated within the value chain enhancement for job creation and economic development framework in tandem with the general policy framework of the country. It is particularly interested in the value chain development of the country’s three most important root and tuber crops- cassava, sweet potato and yam.

The study concludes with the findings that the production of roots and tubers has potential for job creation and trade opportunities. Ghana has a comparative advantage in the production of specific varieties of yam that have high premium on the international market and favourable trade policies. It is a signatory to many bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, the market is quite open. The threats to development here are low research and development. There are some gender dimensions in the form of barriers and myths. The production is mainly rain-fed and therefore seasonal. There is pervasive lack of financial support and infrastructural deficit coupled with weak institutional engagement with stakeholders that need to be addressed.