The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has set up food retail centres in the Greater Accra Region to mitigate the hike in food prices.
According to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, most middlemen go to the farm gates for farm produce at cheaper prices, only to turn around and sell them at higher prices in urban centres, hence the need for the MOFA retail centres.
Food prices in the country continue to soar, raising concerns about the government’s failed interventions in the Agricultural sector.
Data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) reveal that food inflation in May 2022 was 30.1 percent higher, compared with 26.6 percent in the preceding month.
Non-food Inflation was also 25.7 percent in May 2022, as against 21.3 percent the previous month.
Speaking in an interview in Sunyani, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, attributed the increases to factors beyond government’s control, such as high cost of fertiliser and chemicals and the increase in fuel prices.
He said despite the ongoing economic crisis, some people have drastically increased their food prices which he says is unacceptable.
Michael Nangena, a member of the NDC’s Regional Communication Team finds this laughable. The idea, he said, shows the unseriousness of the government.
“If you look at the food prices we are talking about, look at what they [the government] is doing today. The Agric Ministry is bringing food to come and sell. Can you imagine this? Is this a serious government?,” he asked.
Mr. Nangena questioned the longevity and sustainability of the programme by the Ministry saying, “clearly, it doesn’t make sense.”
The move by the Ministry of Agriculture also attracted some criticisms from the Chiana-Paga Communication Officer for the NDC, Apostle Stephen Avoyam. He mentioned that the move is discriminatory and prices of foodstuffs are rising across the country, not just the national capital.
“What about me sitting in Kayoro? [What about] my mother sitting in Chiana or the one sitting in Zuarungu? Is it that I have to travel to Accra and go and buy those at the cheaper price? They want to sell at a cheaper price right? Those who have the money will go and buy and come and sell here [at an expensive price] because they are going to be in business. So it is not going to solve the problem.”
“He is going to sell in Accra. Granted that those in Accra would buy and we wouldn’t get it. Those in Accra would go and buy in a larger quantity at a cheaper price and go and sell it at where they deem fit and business out of it. He got it wrong. Is Ghana Accra? Why is it that he [the Agric Minister] can’t supply to other parts of the country; to the district capitals? We are talking about food, Food and water is a necessity. If we are considering those in Accra, and then you neglect those in the villages, [are you saying] that they should suffer and die?”
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
