Available statistics at the Trade, Industry and Presidential Initiatives Ministry show that Ghana is importing 15% less of rice than previous imports. The drop in import volume has partly been attributed to government’s policy on reducing rice importation by about 30% and increasing local rice production.

The Deputy Minister of the Ministry, Kwadwo Afram Asiedu conceded however that the reduction was insignificant and said collective efforts of all development agencies is needed to downsize the high import, which were adversely affecting domestic sale of locally produced rice.

Ghana’s share of rice imports ranges between 1m to 1.4m tons, which is almost 15% of the overall total imports for the sub-region currently estimated at 7.4 million tons annually. But the imports make up 60% of total rice needs.

Unfortunately, government is still in the early stages of addressing the needs of rice farmers in the country, such as land acquisition and unavailability of irrigation facilities. As a result, local rice is in short supply on the market, necessitating higher imports.