(3 Minutes Read)
Amid a deepening grain glut, the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has appealed to six major government agencies to collaborate on a comprehensive audit of the nation’s rice industry. The proposed “Comprehensive Ghana Rice Sector Audit” seeks to tackle a growing oversupply that has left vast quantities of rice and maize unsold, jeopardizing farmers’ incomes and national food security.
The Chamber has called on the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), National Security, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), and Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to jointly enforce tax compliance, enhance quality control systems, and curb the influx of smuggled rice into local markets.
Echoing the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), the Chamber revealed that over 200,000 metric tonnes of paddy rice and maize from the last season remain unsold. The glut, compounded by delayed harvesting and storage constraints, has exposed farmers to significant losses from pests, fires, and inadequate resources.
PFAG cautions that failure to resolve these issues could derail the government’s Feed Ghana program, discourage youth participation in farming, and stall progress toward rice self-sufficiency. Both organizations are urging the development of a long-term national strategy to address structural weaknesses across the agricultural value chain—covering cereals, legumes, and vegetables—to prevent recurring market disruptions.
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To stabilize the grain market and protect local producers, CAG has further proposed a three-month suspension of rice imports, the repeal of L.I. 2432, and targeted government measures to balance supply and demand. This united call for a coordinated, systemic approach highlights the urgent need for reform to revitalize Ghana’s rice sector and secure the livelihoods of farming communities.