The National Seed Trade Association of Ghana has called for a ban on rice and maize imports, arguing that continued dependence on foreign supplies is undermining local investments and limiting opportunities for domestic agricultural businesses.
The Association said the influx of imported rice and maize was weakening demand for locally produced seeds, leaving traders struggling to recover their investments and threatening the sustainability of the local seed industry.
Mr Seidu Abdulai Mubarak, President of the Association, said several local seed traders had suffered financial losses due to the heavy importation of the two staple crops.
He said restricting imports would help protect domestic businesses, stimulate demand for locally produced seeds and encourage investment across the agricultural value chain.
However, beyond an import ban, the concerns highlight the need for systematic measures to strengthen Ghana’s agricultural production capacity and reduce the country’s long-term dependence on imported food.
Such measures would require sustained investment in local seed production, access to agricultural financing, improved farming technology, irrigation infrastructure and stronger distribution networks to ensure farmers can consistently obtain quality inputs.
Building that capacity would be critical to enabling domestic producers to meet national demand for rice and maize in the coming years without exposing consumers to supply shortages and sharp price increases.
For local seed traders, stronger domestic production would also provide a more predictable market, improve investment returns and create opportunities for business expansion.
The proposed restrictions, therefore, raise a broader question about how Ghana can balance immediate food supply requirements with the long-term objective of building a competitive agricultural industry capable of meeting domestic demand.
