The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) emergency policy to ban the smuggling of cereals, such as maize, and to disburse funds to farmers who have lost maize crops due to drought can be seen as a reactive measure. Instead, it is suggested that the government should collaborate with agricultural researchers and the Cereal and Grains Boards of Ghana to implement a short-term emergency irrigation scheme.
This approach would address immediate needs caused by drought and climate change, rather than relying on cash disbursements, which may not provide immediate food sufficiency.
Member of Parliament for Beum, Hon. Kofi Adams, made these statements during an interview on the Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra. He argued that the NPP government’s policies, such as the buffer stock program and the “Planting for Food and Jobs” initiative, should have been strategically designed with a commercial focus and a comprehensive food security plan. He believes that such measures could have mitigated the current emergency and prevented the looming food shortage.
Meanwhile, the government has imposed an immediate ban on the export of grains due to the ongoing drought affecting the northern parts of the country. Minister of Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong announced this decision during a press briefing in Accra on Monday, August 27.
The ban aims to ensure the availability of crops for the domestic market amid challenging weather conditions. To support farmers, Mr. Acheampong urged those with grain stocks to contact district directors, aggregators, and the Crops Directorate if they are interested in selling.
“With immediate effect, the government is placing a ban on the export of grains, including maize, rice, and soybeans, until the situation normalizes. This measure is essential to ensure the availability of these critical crops on the domestic market,” he stated.
Northern Ghana is currently facing a severe drought that has raised concerns about food security and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers. The region has been without rain for over two months, resulting in stunted crop growth and diminished prospects for a successful harvest.
Dr. Amin Adam, Minister of Finance, has expressed grave concerns about the agricultural sector’s crisis due to the ongoing drought, emphasizing its impact on the country’s economic trajectory. During a press conference in Accra on Monday, August 26, Dr. Adam highlighted the challenges farmers are facing and how these challenges are affecting the broader economy.
He noted that the drought has undermined economic growth expectations and that even recent rains may not be sufficient to support crop maturity. “Investments have been lost, and even with the rains, we might not see enough to support crop growth. Typically, by this time, new maize would be on the market, but that is not the case now,” Dr. Adam said.
He also pointed out that the drought has affected inflation rates and economic growth projections. “Last year, we had a 2.9% economic growth, and in the first quarter of this year, we achieved 4.7% growth. We were optimistic that this trend would continue, but the agricultural sector’s challenges have put our economic growth trajectory at risk.”
The drought has caused substantial losses in staples such as rice, maize, groundnuts, and millet, leading to a sharp decline in food production and raising alarms about a potential food shortage and looming famine.
Story By: Alexander Kukah
