Ghana’s pursuit of rice independence gained significant momentum following a high-level meeting between government officials and key representatives from the nation’s rice value chain.
The meeting, held in Accra, concluded with a mutual commitment to accelerate progress under the Government’s Feed Ghana Programme and address pressing industry challenges.
The delegation, comprising members from the Rice Millers Association of Ghana (RMAG), the Competitive African Rice Platform (CARP), leading rice farmers, and allied groups, presented a detailed situational analysis of the sector to the Minister of Food, Eric Opoku and Agriculture and the CEO of the National Buffer Stock Company, George Abrafu-Otoo.
The analysis highlighted immediate concerns, including significant paddy congestion currently affecting the northern belt and the anticipated congestion in the south as harvest season commences.
Discussions further focused on existing policy gaps, coordination deficiencies across the value chain, and the critical need to integrate credible data, science, and research into both on-ground farming practices and national planning.
In response to the presentation and the consensus that the goal of national rice independence is achievable, the Minister issued directives for the immediate formation of two key committees to streamline efforts and tackle structural issues.
The first of these is the Rice Purchase Committee, which has been tasked with coordinating the Buffer Stock programme.
Its mandate is to ensure the exclusive purchase of Ghana-made rice, thereby directly working to decongest existing local paddy stocks and support domestic producers.
The second is the Policy and Strategy Committee, which is a joint body comprising industry and government actors.
This committee will be responsible for designing a comprehensive framework to address immediate short-term challenges while advancing the long-term rice-independence agenda.
The Minister described the collaboration as a “turning point.”
He affirmed the government’s commitment, stating, “Together, we can secure Ghana’s food future and empower our farmers.”
The industry representatives, on the other hand, expressed their welcome for the Minister’s immediate commitment and pledged their full support for the new strategic direction.
In a clear show of unity and commitment to the partnership, the rice sector affirmed its participation in this year’s Farmers’ Day celebrations, reversing previous considerations of a boycott.
