Government has announced an immediate ban on the export of key grains, including maize, rice, and soybeans, in response to the severe dry spell that has crippled agricultural production across eight regions in Ghana.
During a press briefing yesterday, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, explained that this decisive action is crucial to safeguarding food security within the country, revealing that, “Effective immediately, the government is placing a ban on the export of grains such as 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 further assured farmers that they would not be adversely affected by the ban. “Any farmer with stock and interested in selling should contact our district directories across the country, our district aggregators, or the Directorate of Crops at the Ministry of Agriculture. This is to ensure that farmers do not suffer as a result of this ban,” Mr. Acheampong added.
The minister’s announcement follows alarming reports indicating that 435,872 farmers have already incurred losses estimated at GH₵ 3.5 billion due to the prolonged dry conditions.
The government’s move aims to stabilize the domestic food supply and prevent further economic strain on farmers and the broader population.
Meanwhile, addressing a related issue, the Deputy Northern Regional Health Director, speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Director, Muhammed Yakubu, acknowledged the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, including school closures and disruptions to vital programs.
He praised the resilience of stakeholders in relaunching key initiatives post-pandemic stating “Today, as we review the outcomes of this assessment, we have an opportunity to reflect on our achievements, understand the challenges faced, and identify the areas that require further attention and improvement.”
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