Agriculture Minister Henry Musa Kpaka Appointed Chairman of AfricaRice Council of Ministers
Aminata Koroma Sierra Leone’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Henry Musa Kpaka, has been appointed Chairman of the AfricaRice Council of Ministers at its 34th Ordinary Session in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Dr Kpaka will lead the 28-member governing body, which is responsible for providing strategic oversight, ministerial guidance and direction for agricultural research across Africa.
His appointment comes as member countries intensify efforts to strengthen the continent’s rice sector and reduce dependence on imported rice.
Speaking after accepting the position, Dr Kpaka said the appointment presents an opportunity to advance shared agricultural goals, including food security, job creation and reduced dependence on imports.
“I accepted to lead great minds because we all share the same goal: to use agriculture to feed ourselves, create jobs, and reduce dependence on imports that contribute to African poverty,” he stated.
The appointment coincides with AfricaRice’s implementation of its Institutional Strategy for 2027-2035, which aims to strengthen collaboration and develop competitive domestic rice markets across the continent.
In Sierra Leone, the appointment aligns with the government’s Feed Salone initiative, which seeks to achieve food self-sufficiency through investments in agricultural production, mechanisation and infrastructure.
According to the information provided, the country’s domestic rice self-sufficiency increased from 68 per cent in 2023 to 73 per cent in 2025.
Dr Kpaka is expected to lead ministerial discussions on technology development and cross-border agricultural cooperation among AfricaRice member states.