Finance Minister reaffirms government’s rice quota policy to increase local consumption
Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has reaffirmed that rice importers may be required to purchase 50 percent of locally produced rice before permitted to import the remaining 50 percent to encourage consumption of riced produced in Ghana. He explained that the proposed policy forms part of measures to reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported rice, […]
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has emphasized that rice importers in Ghana may be required to purchase half of the locally produced rice before they are allowed to import the other half. The policy aims to boost local rice consumption, secure markets for Ghanaian farmers, and promote domestic production. Speaking to Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) students, Dr. Forson stressed that importers must provide evidence of purchasing a specific amount of rice from local farmers before being granted permission to bring it into the country.
The government is committed to implementing practical measures to safeguard the agricultural sector and support Ghanaian farmers. Additionally, the Finance Minister revealed that public procurement for feeding students in Senior High School (SHS) will prioritize purchasing food from Ghanaian producers. This move aims to address the challenges faced by local rice farmers despite the government's expenditure of around GH¢4.5 billion to GH¢5 billion on the Free Senior High School (SHS) program, with approximately GH¢3.5 billion allocated for student feeding.
The 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy will be presented to Parliament on November 12, 2026, at 6 pm, after being approved by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin.
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