Odarteifio pledges to pursue irrigation fund in northern Ghana
In Ghana, Stephen Ngira Odarteifio announced his intention to run for the position of national youth organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). He said that one of the main focuses of his campaign would be the development of irrigation in the north of the country. According to MyJoyOnline, the candidate made the statement on September 14, 2026, at a briefing in Accra.
Odarteifio said that if elected, he would advocate for the creation of a separate irrigation fund. In his view, this should enable young farmers in northern Ghana to grow produce throughout the year, increase their incomes and reduce migration to cities.
Irrigation proposal
The candidate believes that expanding irrigation infrastructure would make it possible to shift from seasonal farming to year-round production. He said that the finance minister needs to submit a specific plan to address the irrigation shortage in the north of the country.
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According to Odarteifio, farmers in northern Ghana have been cultivating the land only once a year for more than 60 years. He also claims that after the main agricultural season, millions of young people leave farming and head to Accra, Kumasi or the Western Region in search of income. In his opinion, resolving the irrigation problem would allow about three million young people to double their incomes by working 12 months instead of six.
Elections in the NDC youth wing
Odarteifio will compete for the position with four other contenders, including the incumbent national youth organiser, George Opare Addo. The candidate acknowledged that he had not previously held organisational positions in the NDC youth wing, but said that leadership qualities should not be determined solely by prior party experience.
He also referred to the historical example of Kwame Nkrumah, who became general secretary of the United Gold Coast Convention. Odarteifio said he seeks to help create better economic opportunities for Ghanaian youth. According to the outlet, his professional experience includes civic activism, agribusiness consulting and food systems development.
