Ghana Drought: Government Bans Export Of Grains With Immediate Effect

• The government has imposed a ban on the export of grains due to the ongoing drought in northern Ghana
• Minister of Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong announced the ban during a press briefing
• The minister explained that the ban is to ensure the availability of crops for the domestic market

The government has banned the export of grains like rice, maize and soy, due to the ongoing dry spell affecting the country's northern regions.

Citi News reported that the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, announced this decision during a press briefing on Monday, August 27.

During the briefing, he explained that the ban was to ensure the availability of crops for the domestic market.

He urged those with grain stocks to contact district directors, aggregators, and the crops directorate nationwide if they are interested in selling.

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“Any farmer with stock and interested in selling should contact our district directors across the country, our district aggregators, or the directorate of crops, MoFA."

Earlier concerns from farmers

Farmers in Ghana's northern sector have been reeling from a prolonged drought that has decimated their harvests.

They have said the lack of rainfall in the past two months has stunted and wilted crops, leaving much of their farms unyielding.

They urged the government to intervene in the situation and help mitigate the effects of the drought.

Farmers who spoke to Channel One TV expressed concern that it may be too late to remedy the situation as the rains have been delayed too long.

They explained that ideally, they were supposed to have started harvesting their crops this month, however, due to the drought, their crops have been unable to grow.

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Ghana and Ukraine to establish food hub

YEN.com.gh reported that Ukraine is planning to partner with Ghana to construct a logistics hub for food storage.

The hub would boost food security by allowing the storage of quality grain, promoting predictability of sales and stabilising food prices.

Ukraine's food minister, Mykola Solskyi, has made proposals similar to those of Nigeria and Senegal, two other West African countries, as his country deepens agriculture and trade ties.

Proofread by Berlinda Entsie, journalist and copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh