Anthony Kofituo Morrison, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana, has sharply criticized the government’s recent decision to impose an export ban on key grains, branding the move as a “knee-jerk reaction” devoid of empirical justification.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Mr Morrison contended that the government’s rationale, rooted in concerns over food security amid a protracted dry spell, is not supported by data.
“The available statistics do not warrant such a drastic measure,” he asserted. “Our national maize consumption stands at approximately 3.2 million metric tonnes, with a deficit of around 900,000 metric tonnes. For rice, the deficit is nearly 1 million metric tonnes against a consumption figure of 1.92 million metric tonnes. Yet, the government’s response has been to curtail exports, which seems more reactive than considered.”
Mr Morrison further highlighted that the ongoing dry spell, while indeed a national security concern, should prompt more strategic engagement with grain traders rather than a blanket ban.
He noted that significant quantities of grain are currently being hoarded in warehouses near the northern borders, suggesting that the government could better manage the situation by collaborating with traders to release these stocks into the domestic market, rather than disrupting trade flows.
The government, through the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, had justified the ban as a necessary step to safeguard food security amid adverse climatic conditions affecting agricultural output across eight regions in the country.
Source: Norvanreports