The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, says the government is in discussions with ECOWAS and the World Food Programme (WFP) to help mop up the surplus grains and cereals currently flooding the local market.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at the Jubilee House, the Minister said the move forms part of broader efforts to address the unexpected glut, which he described as unprecedented in more than two decades.
According to him, the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) is also undertaking procurement processes to purchase additional stock after exhausting an initial GHS100 million allocation within just three days.
“We are glad that the market is full. The GHS100 million we provided for Buffer Stock to step in and buy the excess was exhausted within three days,” he said. “When I visited their warehouses, I saw rice, maize, and other grains, yet we still have a lot on the market.”
Mr. Opoku explained that the President has since approved an additional GHS200 million to support further purchases, but stressed that procurement procedures must be followed before licensed buyers can resume buying from farmers.
He added that discussions with the World Food Programme are ongoing, as the WFP is consulting its regional offices to determine how much surplus they can absorb. ECOWAS officials, he said, are scheduled to meet him on Tuesday to explore how the bloc can contribute to the mop-up through its strategic food reserves initiative.
“We are also speaking to colleague ministers across West Africa and the rest of the continent,” Opoku noted. “Some countries are facing shortages and want to explore purchasing from Ghana to support their cereal stockpiles.”
The Minister, who is also the MP for Asunafo South, revealed that government is implementing a long-term strategy aimed at significantly reducing poultry imports.
He said the goal is for Ghana to achieve full poultry self-sufficiency by 2029, with the potential to export to external markets.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
