Agribusiness and greenhouse production expert Emmanuel Boamah Okyere has attributed his professional growth to loyalty, dedication and a commitment to developing expertise in his field.
According to Mr Okyere, remaining loyal to his organisation despite receiving attractive offers from competitors has been an important part of his journey and success.
Speaking about his career, he said his journey into agriculture began about eight years ago when he joined Agri Impact Consult, despite coming from a non-agricultural background.
At the time, the company had recently established a greenhouse vegetable farm at Berekuso, where Mr Okyere initially joined the construction team.
However, he was later reassigned to the production team after management determined that the construction work required more physical strength.
Rather than allowing the change to discourage him, Mr Okyere embraced the new responsibility and developed a strong interest in greenhouse production.
Within a year, he rose to head the new department, a position he has continued to build on through experience, training and professional development.
He said one of the principles that has guided his career is the desire to become a solution provider rather than someone who only identifies problems.
“Power is crucial for every assigned position or role. What makes you relevant is when you possess an expert power because you’ve become an expert in solving a problem,” he explained.
Mr Okyere also stressed the importance of building expertise and continuously improving one’s capacity, noting that professional relevance is closely linked to the ability to provide solutions.
His passion for greenhouse farming grew as he recognised the relatively new nature of the technology in West Africa.
He believed that developing specialised skills in greenhouse production could create opportunities for him not only in Ghana but across the wider sub-region.
“Many things have contributed to my achievements over this period, key amongst them is the drive to be a solution provider and not a problem interpreter,” he said.
Reflecting on the factors behind his professional success, Mr Okyere identified faith and loyalty as two of the most influential.
Coming from a non-agricultural background, he said he prayed for the grace and ability to succeed in his new role and has continued to acknowledge God’s role in his journey.
He also credited his decision to remain loyal to his organisation for helping him grow professionally.
According to him, he has received attractive offers from individuals seeking to recruit him away from his organisation but has remained committed to the institution where he developed his expertise.
“I have never been tempted to heed to the juicy offers from poachers,” he said.
Mr Okyere currently serves as Commercial and Administrative Coordinator at the Agri-Impact Entrepreneurship Training Institute (AETI) and Production Centre.
He has more than eight years of postgraduate experience in agribusiness development, greenhouse production and training.
He has also accumulated more than seven years of experience managing commercial greenhouse facilities in Berekuso, the Volta Region and Dawhenya, where he has been involved in the production and trading of specialty vegetables.
His responsibilities include operations management, marketing, inventory management, monitoring and evaluation, administration and production planning.
He also provides technical support, particularly in pest and disease management, for greenhouse production projects implemented by Agri-Impact.
Mr Okyere has been involved in managing more than 200 greenhouses across over 10 greenhouse projects and training programmes in Ghana.
His professional experience has also allowed him to work with farmer-based organisations, development organisations, agro-input suppliers, agro-processors, supermarkets and agribusiness platforms.
He has received specialised training in greenhouse crop production and specialty fresh-market vegetables and herbs at institutions and organisations in Kenya, South Africa, Zambia and India.
His training has covered greenhouse construction and maintenance, ranging from low-technology bamboo greenhouse systems to more sophisticated greenhouse structures.
He has also gained practical experience in pack-house management.
Mr Okyere has encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to develop patience and resilience instead of seeking immediate success.
He believes many people want to reach the top without going through the stages required to build sustainable businesses and careers.
“My advice to an upcoming entrepreneur is to have the tenacity to grow or go through process,” he said.
He urged young entrepreneurs to understand that challenges are part of the journey and should not be viewed as permanent setbacks.
“You will have your wilderness experience, but always remember its temporal,” he added.
For Mr Okyere, his journey from a non-agricultural background into greenhouse production demonstrates how expertise, loyalty, perseverance and a willingness to learn can open doors in emerging sectors such as agribusiness.
