President Nana Akufo-Addo has issued a directive to all state institutions to purchase only Ghanaian agricultural products, especially local rice by 1st January, 2020.
He made this declaration while addressing the press in a Media Encounter today.
According to President Akufo-Addo, this move by the government is to provide support to Ghanaian farmers in the midst of stiff competition from the market.
“We have to do this [because] that is the only way we can support our farmers. [when people get the opportunity] they go for foreign products, how are you then supporting Ghanaian farmers?”
He added that “efforts are being made now to provide for greater warehousing capacity in the country going forward” to deal with the surpluses in agricultural products as in the case of the Upper East Region’s excess produce of rice.
The President also asserted that other arrangements like the New Ghana Commodity Exchange and the National Buffer Stock Company will enhance the marketing for Ghanaian farmers.
The president noted that, the government is keen on implementing more systematic and strategic ways to support farmers in its quest to promote agricultural activities in Ghana.
Source: Jonas Danquah || ghananewsonline.com.gh