Sheik Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, Greater-Accra Regional Minister, Saturday said there would be a mini fair to showcase strides the region has made particularly in food production over the past two years when he takes his turn at the Meet the Press Series on Tuesday.

He was speaking at the opening of the first Ghana Rice Festival organized by Metro TV in conjunction with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Accra. The festival, which involved the serving of 3,000 people with rice meals at the Freedom and Justice Park, was part of activities marking the 5th anniversary of Metro TV and the celebration of the Eid-Ul-Fitr.

At least 3,000 people would take part in the second feast at the same venue on 26 December 2002 to mark Christmas. Sheik Quaye said the government had supported farmers, especially women in the region over the past two years resulting in an increase in food production.

"We will mark my turn at the meet the press this Tuesday with a mini fair,” adding that during the fair we will sell rice and other products at highly subsidized rates to afford everyone the opportunity to taste of locally produced food."

Ferdinand Agbemadu, Special Advisor to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, said the Ministry had over the past two years developed particular interest in the cultivation and consumption of locally produced rice to reduce the import bill.

He said the country was spending over 100 million dollars to import rice every year, adding that, consumers confuse some locally produced rice with imported ones, which gives credence to the move to encourage local consumption.

Talal Fatal, Chief Executive Officer of Metro TV, said the station would assist the government to cut down the importation of rice by at least 30 per cent.

"We hope that as this rice festival becomes a rice train that moves from region to region every year, Ghana will become self sufficient in growing the rice we eat and need, reduce the huge import bills on the scarce foreign exchange, for the benefit of our people," he said.

He congratulated farmers for their efforts to produce enough to feed Ghanaians and called on the people to encourage them by patronising their produce.

Fatal called on the government and the private sector to patronize Made-in-Ghana products and thanked the various sponsors for making the festival a reality. The police and security personnel from Accra Metropolitan Assembly had a hectic time controlling the crowd who struggled to have their share of the rice packs.