{
  "id": 19857785,
  "title": "Bawumia pledges to make agriculture a national security priority",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/bawumia-pledges-to-make-agriculture-a-national-security-priority",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T19:32:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/bawumia-pledges-to-make-agriculture-a-national-security-priority/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has committed to prioritizing agriculture as a national security issue if he were to become President of Ghana. The NPP candidate highlighted the challenges faced by rice farmers during a meeting in Asutsuare, a town in the Shai-Osudoku District. Bawumia stressed that his administration would take a more focused approach to agricultural development, given the sector's crucial role in national survival and economic stability.\n\nThe NPP presidential candidate identified several obstacles that require immediate attention, such as limited access to fertilizers, inadequate irrigation systems, and the absence of reliable markets for locally produced rice. Several farmers who spoke to him shared that they had taken loans to expand their rice production but were struggling to recover their investments due to a lack of buyers. Bawumia emphasized the need to move beyond simply making promises and implement policies that would provide farmers with the necessary support and market access to boost production and ensure sustainable incomes.\n\nAmong his proposals, Bawumia called for the completion of Phase Two of the Kpong Irrigation Scheme. He argued that enhancing irrigation infrastructure would facilitate the expansion of rice cultivation and strengthen domestic rice production. Additionally, the NPP presidential hopeful suggested that schools and public institutions should be supplied with locally produced rice, creating a more dependable market for farmers. This move, he argued, could help absorb local production, boost farmers' incomes, and lessen Ghana's dependence on imported rice.\n\nBawumia's suggestions come as concerns grow over unsold stocks of locally produced rice and Ghana's continued reliance on rice imports despite efforts to expand domestic production. The NPP flagbearer maintained that treating agriculture as a strategic national priority is essential to enhance food security and improve farmers' livelihoods.",
  "summary": "New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has pledged to make agriculture a national security priority if elected President, citing challenges facing rice farmers and the need to strengthen Ghana’s food security. Speaking to rice farmers at Asutsuare in the Shai-Osudoku District, Dr Bawumia said his proposed government would adopt a more deliberate approach to agricultural…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}