Despite strong opposition from key stakeholders, the government plans to lift the grain export ban by November.
Anthony Morrison, CEO of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana; Bismark Owusu Nortey, Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG); and Professor Roger Adamu Lure Kanton, Chairman of the Agriculture and Environment Committee of the Sisaala Development Network (SiDNET), have voiced concerns about the ban.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, announced that the government is monitoring the drought situation and aims to resolve it within six months.
The ban was originally imposed due to severe drought in northern Ghana that led to significant crop losses. To address the impact, the government has allocated $500 million, with $155 million coming from the World Bank and development partners, to provide relief to farmers, offering payments of 1,000 cedis per hectare.
Farmers with remaining stock are encouraged to sell to district directors, aggregators, or the Crops Directorate to avoid losses. However, opposition to the ban remains, and it is uncertain how quickly the situation will improve.
The government’s plan to lift the grain export ban by November may offer a temporary solution, but opposition from key stakeholders highlights lingering concerns about the long-term effects of the drought and crop failures. As the situation evolves, the balance between safeguarding food security and supporting the agricultural sector remains uncertain.
While the relief funds offer some support, the effectiveness of the government’s approach will ultimately be measured by its ability to stabilize the agricultural economy and address the pressing needs of farmers in the months ahead.
