Deputy Agric Minister Yaw Frimpong Addo has described the calls by the Russian Embassy in Ghana on the government not to blame the country for the hikes in food as an act of international diplomacy.
He opined that the Russian government wants to absorb itself from the recent hikes in food prices following the Russia and Ukraine war.
The Russian government has absolved itself of any blame for the current challenges, bringing the global food value chain to its knees.
According to the Russian Embassy in Ghana, the current hardship is a result of high demand and rising prices of food, raw materials, and transportation services as part of post-Covid-19 recovery.
The Embassy explained that the current situation in the agricultural space is not a result of happenings within the last two months, but due to a steady trend of happenings on the global stage in the last two years.
“The current situation in the food markets is not a result of two months of this year, but a steady trend of at least two years. Food prices started rising in mid-2020 and reached an all-time high in February 2022.
“This is a real market shock caused by high demand and rising prices on food, raw materials, and transportation services, including freight, in the post-Covid recovery period,” the Embassy tweeted.
But the Deputy Minister speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm noted that no one can deny the fact that the increase in commodity prices has been exacerbated by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
”I am surprised the Russian Embassy is making these claims. It is an act of international diplomacy. They just want to absorb themselves from what is going on despite the clear facts. Who does not know that the wheat we consume in Ghana is largely imported from Russia?”
He indicated that we are not in normal times because the prices of food have increased. The increment is a result of several factors including seasonal issues.
He also disclosed that middlemen who buy6 directly from the farmers before selling them to consumers have increased their prices, a challenge the government was trying to resolve.
He admitted that we have enough food but it has become expensive but was quick to add that the government was doing its best to resolve the change.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
