The government of Ghana has unveiled plans to limit foreign rice imports to a maximum of 44 per cent of national consumption, as part of sweeping measures to protect domestic farmers, cut reliance on foreign produce, and drive the country towards food self-sufficiency.
Under the proposed policy, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will enforce a strict import quota system designed to prevent foreign shipments from overwhelming local markets.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Eric Opoku, disclosed that Ghana currently produces roughly 56 per cent of its total national rice demand, meaning off-shore supply should only be brought in to cover the remaining deficit.
“Today on record, we are producing 56% of our national consumption of rice. So if we are to import, we have to import only 44%. We will not allow importers to exceed 44% and that is why we are introducing the import quota system so that the markets will not be flooded with imported rice,” he stated.
Dr Opoku explained that the government is channelling significant investments into local cultivation and processing capacity. He added that the quota policy is currently undergoing stakeholder consultations with technical teams, with rollout expected shortly. As domestic yield grows, the import ceiling will be progressively reduced until foreign imports are completely phased out.
To complement the quota scheme, the government is also laying out strict trade and procurement conditions for commercial importers and state-funded institutions.
Detailing the economic strategy during an interactive session on the ‘New Economy’ at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced that importers may soon be legally required to buy locally grown rice equal to 50 per cent of their intended import volume before obtaining an import permit.
Illustrating the mechanism, Dr Ato Forson noted that any merchant seeking to clear 100,000 metric tonnes of foreign rice would first need to show proof of purchasing 50,000 metric tonnes from Ghanaian rice growers. He stressed that deliberate state intervention is necessary to safeguard the livelihoods of local farmers against cheap foreign commodities.
Furthermore, the Finance Minister revealed plans for legislative reforms that will penalise public institutions failing to buy local produce, particularly under state-funded programmes.
Dr Ato Forson highlighted the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) initiative, questioning why local farmers struggle to secure stable markets despite government allocating GH¢4.5 billion to GH¢5 billion annually to the programme, with roughly GH¢3.5 billion going directly towards student feeding.
He maintained that taxpayers’ money spent on public procurement must directly benefit native industries, pointing out that similar enforcement measures will target the domestic textile sector.
Dr Ato Forson raised concerns over state institutions sourcing uniforms for security agencies from foreign firms while established home-grown companies, such as Juapong Textiles and Akosombo Textiles, struggle to stay afloat. Prioritising local manufacturers for police and military attire, he argued, would instantly reignite domestic textile manufacturing and generate job opportunities for young people across the country.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
