Buffer Stock calls for expansion of national storage capacity as it falls below 50,000 metric tonnes

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ghana's National Food Buffer Stock Company, Osmond Amuah, has urged for increased investment in the nation's food storage infrastructure, highlighting that the country's current capacity falls short of 50,000 metric tonnes. Due to its limited storage potential, Ghana struggles to maintain sufficient emergency food reserves during disruptions to global food supply chains.

The country consumes over six million metric tonnes of maize and rice annually, necessitating substantial storage facilities to ensure food security during emergencies. Amuah emphasized that Ghana should be capable of maintaining food reserves capable of feeding the populace for at least 90 days, which he considers an acceptable global standard.

He pointed out that unforeseen events such as pandemics, conflicts, prolonged droughts, or the closure of major international trade routes could severely impact Ghana's ability to import food. For instance, if critical supply routes like the Strait of Hormuz or the Suez Canal were to be closed, food imports could take up to eight to twelve weeks to arrive.

Consequently, Ghana must maintain adequate reserves to sustain the population while awaiting imported food supplies. The monthly demand for maize and rice alone exceeds 500,000 metric tonnes, but the country's present storage capacity remains significantly lower than this requirement. In the current scenario, the storage capacity stands at less than fifty thousand metric tonnes, creating a considerable gap between food needs and available storage.

To address this challenge, Amuah stressed the urgency for government funding to develop warehouses, silos, and other necessary storage infrastructure. He emphasized that even if Ghana had sufficient resources to procure food for an emergency reserve, the lack of storage facilities would still pose a significant problem. "So that means that there's a huge gap," he noted.

"We really need rapid development, rapid support in infrastructure so that at least as a nation, when any eventuality befalls us, at least we can be dignified by feeding our own citizenry." Amuah encouraged support for the provision of additional warehouses, silos, and necessary equipment to bolster Ghana's food storage capacity.

He revealed that NAFCO has already initiated steps to enhance its storage capacity using internally generated funds, such as extensive renovations that increased its functioning capacity from less than ten to approximately fifty thousand metric tonnes. He believes that with additional government support, NAFCO could dramatically expand the nation's food storage capacity.