Journal of Extension Systems, Vol. 29 (1), June 2013 41 TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES IN GHANA 1 Mavis DAYIE and Esther Nuonibe BEMILE 1 Christian University College, P.O. Box AF 919, Adenta – Accra, Ghana 2 University of Alberta, 515 General Service Building, T6G2H1, Edmonton, Canada Corresponding author: Mavis DAYIE - nusinyoo@yahoo.com ABSTRACT Public extension systems worldwide have been accused of being deficient in management and inefficient in technical advisory service delivery. This is even more in developing countries where fiscal budgetary and human resource allocations are low. This study assessed the current status of technical advisory services delivered to farmers by public sector agricultural extension agents. Survey data revealed that 95% of those with contacts with extension agents rated public extension as the most important source of information. Results revealed that farmers are mostly dissatisfied with some technical advisory packages which points to the need for improvement in these services by the Agricultural Ministry. Keywords: Agricultural extension agents, technical advisory services. INTRODUCTION Agricultural information about new technologies and production methods in Ghana is disseminated to farmers and their families mainly through the public sector Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs). The provision of technical assistance or advice to farmers on the operation of their farms or business related to agriculture, such as information on improved technologies, and creation of database on farm business is referred to as technical advisory service. The technical advisory services provided by the Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) can be classified into five categories, as follows: Agronomic practices (i.e. advice to solve specific problems in the field), Post-harvest handling, Credit acquisition, Marketing of produce (market prospects, prices etc.), and Information on the availability of new inputs (totally new information/technologies, their characteristics and availability eg. fertilizers, equipments, improved seeds, etc.) and their usage.