Maize traders in the Bono East Region are raising alarms about a potential maize shortage, a grain used in preparing many staples. They report that traders from neighboring countries are purchasing maize directly from farms at high prices, bypassing local markets and causing concerns about food availability.
Traders and cargo drivers in Techiman have observed that French-speaking traders from countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are competing with local traders for maize, leading to shortages in local markets.
A recent report from the Ghana Statistical Service indicates that food prices in Bono East have risen by 39 percent, underscoring the severity of the problem. Mr. Obiri Yeboah, Secretary for the Maize Sellers Association in the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Ashanti regions, confirmed this issue in an interview. He explained that farmers prefer to sell their maize to foreign traders at higher prices, rather than to local markets.
This trend has resulted in increased prices for maize and other food items, making it difficult for local residents to afford them. Mr. Yeboah called for measures to strengthen the local currency and ensure that foreign traders do not have an unfair advantage over Ghanaian traders, to prevent a potential food shortage in the region.
