‘Operation Feed Yourself’ cut Ghana’s rice imports to zero in 1975 and 1976 – Sam Jonah

Former University of Cape Coast Chancellor, Sir Sam Jonah, highlighted General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong's "Operation Feed Yourself" as the cause for Ghana's elimination of rice imports in 1975 and 1976. Speaking at a lecture dedicated to Acheampong's legacy, Sir Sam emphasized how national leadership can empower citizens to produce the food they need.

The campaign began when Acheampong questioned his government about their reliance on foreign rice imports, pointing out their abundant land, rain, and water resources. Led by then Colonel Frank Bernasko, the program provided farmers with subsidized cutlasses, hoes, fertilizers, and seeds, and constructed irrigation dams. As a result, northern Ghana farmers started exporting rice and tomatoes to neighboring Upper Volta, now Burkina Faso, and Tamale earned the nickname "Rice City."

The impact extended beyond agriculture as secondary schools began producing their own food, university students volunteered in harvests, and factory workers and bank managers farmed during weekends. Sir Sam contended that a nation's self-sufficiency is crucial for development, calling Operation Feed Yourself a lasting part of Acheampong's legacy.

He noted that while he recognizes the former military leader's policies, it doesn't mean endorsing the 1972 coup that led to his rise to power.