Ghana Bans Export of Grains

The government of Ghana has announced the imposition of an immediate ban on the export of key grains, including rice, maize, and soy.

The ban which is in response to the ongoing dry spell that is severely affecting the Northern sector of the country is aimed at averting a potential food shortage.

Crops are not yielding as a result of the drought.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, announced the decision during a press briefing in Accra on Monday, August 27, 2024. 

The affected regions, mostly in the north, are responsible for about 62% of Ghana’s grain production, and the lack of rain over the past two months has raised concerns about a significant shortfall in grain availability.

“With immediate effect, the government is placing a ban on the export of grains including maize, rice, and soya bean until the situation normalizes. This measure is essential to ensure the availability of these critical crops on the domestic market.”

“Any farmer with stock and interested in selling should contact our district directors across the country, our district aggregators, or the directorate of crops, Ministry of Agriculture. This is to ensure that farmers do not suffer adversely as a result of this ban,” he stated.

To mitigate the effects of the grain shortage, the government plans to raise $500 million, including approximately $155 million from the World Bank and other development partners. 

The Minister of Finance, Mohammed Amin Adam stated that these funds would be used to offer compensation to affected farmers, with payments of 1,000 cedis per hectare.

Explaining the rationale behind the ban, Acheampong emphasized the need to ensure the availability of critical crops for the domestic market amid the challenging weather conditions. 

He urged farmers with grain stocks to contact district directors, aggregators, and the Crops Directorate if they are interested in selling their produce, to prevent suffering losses due to the export ban.

The government hopes that the export ban, coupled with financial support for farmers and strategic grain imports, will stabilize the situation and prevent a full-blown food crisis in Ghana.