Eric Opoku, the Minority Spokesperson on Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Asunafo South, has criticized the government’s recent decision to ban the export of grains, arguing that the measure will not achieve its intended goals.
On August 26, the government announced the ban in response to fears of a potential food shortage linked to reduced rainfall in northern Ghana.
However, Opoku contends that the ban is a misguided approach and that addressing the root causes of grain exportation would be more effective.
Opoku questioned the rationale behind the ban, suggesting that factors such as price incentives drive the export of grains.
He argued that if farmers are offered better prices abroad, they will be more inclined to sell their produce outside the country.
Opoku emphasized the importance of stockpiling food to prepare for any forthcoming crisis rather than relying solely on export restrictions.
In contrast, Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, remains optimistic about the country’s food security despite the severe drought affecting Northern Ghana.
The region has been experiencing a lack of rainfall for over two months, which has severely impacted crop growth and raised concerns about food availability and farmers’ livelihoods.
In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Face to Face on Channel One TV, Acheampong assured us there would be no famine in Ghana, dismissing concerns about a potential food shortage.
The Minister expressed confidence that the government’s measures and interventions would prevent a crisis despite the challenging conditions faced by farmers in the affected regions.
