President Mahama directs Finance Minister to release extra GH₵200m to tackle maize glut

President John Mahama has ordered the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to release an additional GH₵200 million to buy surplus maize from farmers affected by the ongoing glut across the country.

This move forms part of the government’s wider plan to curb food wastage, strengthen national food security, and preserve surplus produce for future use.

Speaking at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Initiative in Kumasi, President Mahama said the government had already released GH₵100 million to address the situation, but the funds were not enough to clear the surplus.

“Our farmers are worried. There’s a glut on the market, so I asked the Finance Minister to provide GH₵100 to the National Buffer Stock Company to buy up the surplus maize so that when there’s a shortage later in the year, it can be released. They have finished purchasing with the first GH₵100 million, but there’s still a lot of maize on the market and prices remain low.”

He explained that with prices continuing to fall and farmers unable to make profits, the government had decided to take further action.

“I’ve directed the Finance Minister to release an additional GH₵200 million to buy the remaining glut and store it for future use,” he stated.

President Mahama added that the same approach would be applied to other crops, including rice. “It is the same situation with rice. I’ve instructed the Buffer Stock Company to purchase the excess and keep it as well,” he said.

The President also mentioned measures to support poultry farmers. “I have also instructed Buffer Stock to purchase rice from our local farmers to prevent losses. For eggs, I have asked the managers of the school feeding programme to include eggs in student meals,” he added.

He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting farmers, stabilising agricultural markets, and protecting the nation’s food supply chain, stressing that “no Ghanaian farmer should suffer losses simply because they produced in abundance.”

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