Eric Opoku to head Food and Agriculture Ministry

A seasoned politician with expertise in law and agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku has been tapped as the Minister for Food and Agriculture-designate.

Known for his extensive experience in rural development, Opoku is expected to spearhead initiatives aimed at boosting food security and supporting farmers.

This appointment was made by President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, January 16, 2025.

With over 12 years of parliamentary experience, he has risen from the back benches to become the Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs Committee. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Law from KNUST and an LLM (Distinction) in International Business Law from the University of Essex, UK. He has also earned certifications in International Legislative Drafting and Fisheries Management from the United States.

About Eric Opoku

Eric Opoku was born on 5 June 1970. He hails from a town called Sankore in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana.

Opoku is a farmer/agriculturist. Prior to his appointment into parliament, he worked as a teacher with the Ghana Education Service at SDA Primary School in Sankore, from 1997 to 2000. He has also worked with Kuapa Kookoo Ltd as the Society Development Secretary from 1998 to 2001.

Opoku was first elected into parliament in the 3rd parliament of the 4th republic of Ghana as the member of parliament for the Asunafo South constituency in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Though he lost his seat in the subsequent election, he was elected again into parliament on 7 January 2013 after claiming victory at the 2012 Ghanaian General Elections to represent the Asunafo South constituency and served until 6 January 2017. He was then reelected on 7 January 2017 after the 2016 Ghanaian General Elections where he obtained 52.97% of the valid votes cast.

He has worked as the Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Minister from 2009 to 2013. In the 7th parliament of the 4th republic of Ghana he served on the Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee as a ranking Member. He also served on the Privileges Committee and Appointments Committee in the same parliament.

Opoku received an award as the best member of parliament for communal and rural development for 2017 from the Bureau of Research on Governance, Commerce and Administration (BORGCA). This award was given for his contribution to developmental projects in the Asunafo South constituency.