Partnerships that Yield Results: How develoPPP Projects Are Powering Energy Security and Smart Farming in Ghana

At the heart of the visit were two initiatives: “Improving the Sustainable Value Chain for Tropical Dry Fruits” with HPW Fresh and Dry Limited, and “Waterweed to Value” with Volta River Estates Limited (VREL), producers and exporters of banana. The initiatives demonstrate develoPPP’s triple-win approach: creating value for businesses, improving livelihoods for communities, and advancing development and climate goals. Both projects are funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the develoPPP programme and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH jointly with the private partners.

Along the Volta River, aquatic weeds have long posed a threat to power generation, fishing livelihoods, public health, and water transport. During the rainy season, floating weeds drift toward hydropower intakes, forcing shutdowns and costly interventions.

“Aquatic weeds directly undermine our power generation and have cost us nearly four million dollars in losses over three years,” said Ben Sackey, Director of Environment and Sustainable Development at the Volta River Authority. “Harvesting the weeds is the solution but without an off-taker, we simply cannot remove them at scale.”

Through the “Waterweed to Value” project, the German Development Cooperation is enabling VREL to transform harvested waterweed into organic compost. With new equipment including tractors, a compost turner, tipper truck and pickups, the rate of weed removal can increase significantly, easing pressure on Ghana’s energy infrastructure while restoring river ecosystems. Already, fishermen have returned, their canoes once again lining the riverbanks.

VREL had previously composted on a limited scale, producing about 3,000 metric tons annually. With develoPPP’s support, the company hopes to scale up to 16,000 metric tons per year, while reducing dependence on synthetic fertilisers.

“This project allows us to further our sustainability agenda while directly supporting smallholder farmers,” said the Managing Director of VREL, Anthony Blay.

Under the project, 5,000 metric tons of compost will be supplied annually to smallholder farmers in the Volta Region within VREL’s catchment communities. By using the compost, the partners hope to reduce their dependence on synthetic fertiliser by 50%. Farmers and community members are also receiving training and basic equipment to produce organic compost themselves, laying the foundation for climate-smart, cost-effective farming that improves soil fertility and boosts yields.

In Adeiso in the Eastern region of Ghana, the delegation visited the HPW factory, where dried mangoes, pineapples and coconuts are processed under the strictest quality standards for international markets, including Germany. Through the develoPPP partnership, certified value chains are strengthening farmer livelihoods while meeting global demand for sustainably produced dried fruits.

A local HPW study revealed that farmers using fruit bait technology in combination with copper fungicide solution to control fruit flies increased their yields almost fourfold. Combined with intercropping support, smallholder farmers can now earn more consistently throughout the year instead of relying on a single harvest.

Thanks to quality assurance, Ghana’s dried fruits are not just export goods, they are proof that inclusive, sustainable value chains can connect smallholder farmers to global markets while creating jobs at home.

The Head of develoPPP for Jobs, Elizabeth Richter, rounded the tour saying, “It is indeed a true triple-win for farmers, communities and the environment. These projects show how development cooperation can deliver real results.”