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The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has declared what it describes as a national agricultural emergency, warning that Ghana’s grain sector is facing an escalating crisis driven by market distortions, unsold produce, and inconsistent policies.
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has declared what it describes as a national agricultural emergency, warning that Ghana’s grain sector is facing an escalating crisis driven by market distortions, unsold produce, and inconsistent policies.
In a statement signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Farmer Anthony Kofiuto Morrison, the Chamber revealed that over 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice, maize, and
soya beans remain unsold across farming communities nationwide. It blamed the glut on poor market coordination, restrictive policies, and rising imports that have pushed local farmers to the brink.
CAG is calling for urgent government intervention, including a three-month moratorium on rice imports, the repeal of the Export and Import (Restriction on Exportation of
Soya Beans) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2432), and the creation of a Strategic Grain Reserve Procurement Programme to purchase surplus produce directly from farmers.
“The policy, though well-intentioned, has become counterproductive,” the Chamber warned, citing a sharp drop in farm-gate prices from GH¢650 to GH¢400 per bag, and a growing stockpile of unsold soya beans in warehouses across the Northern and Southern regions.
According to CAG, Ghana faces a “paradox of surplus amid deficit.” Despite local rice production reaching about 900,000 metric tonnes against annual consumption of 1.9 million metric tonnes, large volumes of both milled and paddy rice remain unsold due to smuggling, expired imports, and weak enforcement of quality standards.
The Chamber further noted that Ghana’s maize output stands at 2.5 million metric tonnes annually, leaving a 700,000-metric-tonne deficit, while soya bean production—currently between 225,000 and 250,000 metric tonnes—lags well behind national potential.
To tackle these challenges, CAG has proposed the following:
A three-month ban on rice imports to clear local stock and stabilize prices.
Repeal of L.I. 2432 to restore competitiveness in the soya bean market.
An inter-agency audit and quota system involving the Ministry of Trade, the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Food and Drugs Authority to verify tax compliance, product quality, and curb smuggling.
In the medium term, the Chamber is advocating for a five-year Ghana Rice Production Strategy, expanded irrigation infrastructure, and greater private-sector participation in agro-processing.
“The government must safeguard the investments of our local farmers and agribusinesses to build a food-secure and economically resilient Ghana,” the statement concluded.
CAG maintains that immediate action is needed to avert farmer losses, stabilize rural livelihoods, and position Ghana’s agriculture as a foundation for sustainable national growth.
