Ghana’s maize and rice sector is facing a deepening crisis, with more than 100,000 metric tonnes from the 2024 harvest remains unsold as the new farming season approaches.
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has warned that the glut is pushing farmers into debt, crippling local processors, and undermining national food security.
According to the chamber, the situation has been worsened by the influx of cheap imports and the smuggling of low-quality grains, which escape taxes and quality inspections but are dumped on the market at prices local producers cannot match.
“This unfair competition is forcing our farmers to sell below cost while collapsing confidence in the value chain,” the chamber said, noting that the state is also losing vital tax revenue due to collusion between smugglers and corrupt border officials.
With the 2025 harvest just weeks away, the chamber fears the crisis could spiral into widespread mill closures, job losses, and the erosion of Ghana’s long-term food sovereignty.
The chamber is therefore calling for urgent government intervention. It stressed the need for tighter border controls to stop smuggling, the establishment of guaranteed minimum prices to protect farmers from market shocks, and policies that would require public institutions such as the School Feeding Programme, the Armed Forces, and the Prisons Service to prioritise locally grown grains.
It also appealed for financial backing that would enable millers to purchase and store stocks at harvest, as well as long-term investment in irrigation, rural roads, storage infrastructure, and cold chain systems.
“Supporting domestic grain production is not just about protecting farmers; it is about safeguarding jobs, strengthening local industries, and securing Ghana’s food future,” the chamber emphasised.
CAG further urged government, farmer groups, and private sector players to convene immediate dialogue before the next harvest season, warning that inaction could deepen Ghana’s dependence on imported staples, drain foreign exchange, and destabilise rural livelihoods.
