President John Dramani Mahama has outlined a series of interventions aimed at addressing the persistent glut of food crops, particularly maize and rice, as part of efforts to stabilise prices and protect farmers’ incomes.
Central to the plan is a GHC200 million allocation to the National Buffer Stock Company to purchase excess produce from farmers. The commodities will be distributed to public institutions, including secondary schools, hospitals and prisons.
According to the President, the initiative is designed to absorb surplus produce from the market, reduce post-harvest losses and guarantee farmers ready buyers.
Expanding processing capacity
Beyond immediate market interventions, Mahama said the government is investing in processing infrastructure to provide long-term solutions to recurring surpluses.
He announced that a new rice mill under construction along the Yendi Road in Tamale, along with a planned facility in the Fumbisi Valley, will process locally grown rice for supply to the buffer stock system and the School Feeding Programme.
In addition, five maize processing factories are expected to be established across the country to absorb excess maize for both domestic consumption and export.
The President expressed confidence that these measures would not only reduce waste but also create new economic opportunities within the agricultural value chain.
Mahama noted that similar interventions were implemented last year, when GH¢100 million was released to support the purchase of excess maize. However, he said storage facilities remain full as the country approaches another planting season, raising concerns about further accumulation.
Resetting Ghana Tour
The President made the announcement during his two-day “Resetting Ghana” tour of the Northern Region, where he also launched and inspected several development projects.
As part of the tour, he cut sod for the construction of 24-hour economy model markets at Bimbilla and Kukuo in the Tamale Metropolis. The facilities will include storage warehouses, security posts, healthcare services and food courts to support continuous trading.
Mr Mahama said the markets would strengthen the agricultural value chain by improving access to reliable markets and reducing post-harvest losses.
“The plan is to establish similar markets in all the 261 districts across the country to promote continuous commercial activities,” he stated.
Water and healthcare interventions
Addressing the longstanding water challenges in Tamale, the President said the government is mobilising local resources to revive a major water supply project after a €277 million external facility was withdrawn due to Ghana’s debt default.
He indicated that the new system would deliver an additional 30 million gallons of water daily. In the interim, faulty pumps at the Dalun Water Treatment Plant will be replaced, while plans are underway to extend water supply from Yapei to parts of the metropolis.
On healthcare, Mr Mahama announced the procurement of a new catheterisation laboratory for the Tamale Teaching Hospital to improve the diagnosis and treatment of heart conditions and reduce referrals to Accra and Kumasi.
He also clarified that tricycles being distributed under the Free Primary Healthcare Programme are intended to support mobility for health workers in rural communities, not to function as ambulances.
Call for accountability
Meanwhile, Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, warned contractors against delays and substandard work, cautioning that contracts would be revoked for non-performance.
The President, accompanied by Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Education, also inspected progress on a 300-capacity hostel project at the Bimbilla EP College of Education.
Mahama reiterated his administration’s commitment to fiscal discipline and economic stability, stressing that improving market access remains key to unlocking growth in Ghana’s agricultural sector.
