No rift between Agric and Finance Ministries — Eric Opoku dispels rumours

Eric Opoku, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, has refuted rumors of discord between his ministry and the Ministry of Finance. Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Mr Opoku affirmed that both agencies remain dedicated to the government’s Reset Agenda. He reiterated that while miscommunications may arise, they do not indicate a lack of cooperation. “We are working to actualise the same agenda. The Reset Agenda introduced by His Excellency President Mahama,” he stated.

Opoku acknowledged that misunderstandings can occur, even within personal relationships, but emphasized that this does not mean parties are working separately. “You know even in our families, in our small circles, misunderstandings and miscommunications do occur. That never suggests that we are doing separatists. We are working together to actualise the Reset Agenda,” he remarked.

Regarding rice imports, Opoku dismissed the possibility of a total ban. Currently, domestic production meets about 56 percent of Ghana’s rice demand, leaving a 44 percent gap. He explained that imports are necessary to fill this supply gap until the government achieves rice self-sufficiency by 2028. Instead of a ban, the government aims to regulate rice imports to meet the remaining demand.