Ghana has spent an estimated total of GHc6.8 billion on rice importation from 2017 to 2020.
In addition, the country has also imported the following food products from 2017 to 2020; Fish – GHc3.993 billion, Chicken (processed) – GHc1.881 billion, Meat – GHc481 million, Vegetables GHc281 million, and poultry GHc184 million.
Hon. Alan Kyerematen, the Minister of Trade and Industry said made this disclosure when he appeared before Parliament to respond to a question by Hon. Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim, the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central on how much the state has spent on rice importation and other foodstuffs for the past four years.
Hon. Alan acknowledged from the figures provided that the country has spent close to GHc6.8billion on the importation of food items.
Responding to a question of whether the government has lifted the ban on small rice importers, Hon Alan explained that rice is a staple food in the country and one has to maintain a delicate balance between the quantity of rice produced locally at any point in time and what is important is to ensure that there are no serious shortages.
He said the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture are monitoring the rice production and at the appropriate time when the volumes on local rice increase significantly the government would restrict rice importation.
He maintained that the government has not lifted any ban imposed on the small rice importers but the Ministry has a management policy to ensure that there is no shortage of rice in the system.
Hon. noted that as and when there is significant local rice production in the country the Ministry would be able to determine the decision to take in respect to the ban.
