Olam Ghana, a wholly-owned subsidiary of leading food and agri-business Olam International has launched its locally grown and sourced rice brand –Mama Gold, a premium jasmine rice –  to bring more choices to consumers in Ghana.

Already a successful and established rice brand in Nigeria, Mama Gold will offer Ghanaian consumers high-quality, affordable jasmine rice that is sourced and grown in Ghana.

As a major rice business, Olam Ghana is leveraging its established operational infrastructure and wide sourcing network to collaborate with rice growers and millers in the Volta, Ashanti, and Eastern Regions to produce and stock the product.  

The launch of Mama Gold will support and continue the development of rice farming in Ghana and the government’s initiative to boost domestic rice production and processing to promote self-sufficiency and improve the country’s foreign exchange position.

Speaking at the launch ceremony for Mama Gold at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mrs. Christiana Anim-Asare, Marketing Manager at Olam Ghana, said, “We are proud to be the first company to source from local suppliers and launch a rice brand that is entirely ‘Made in Ghana’.

“With our market knowledge and experience in rice farming, sourcing and distribution across Africa, we have done extensive work to ensure that Mama Gold will deliver clean, well packaged and tasty local jasmine rice that Ghanaians want.

"Beyond meeting our consumers’ requirements, the increased economic activity around locally produced rice will have a positive impact on the lives and livelihoods for many farmers and households,” the Marketing Manager said.

Mr. Richard Twumasi-Ankrah, Director at the Planting for Food and Jobs Secretariat at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture said the Ministry is fully committed to reducing the annual rice import bill which, according to him, is high because the local rice industry has in the past, been plagued with challenges which necessitated the importation of substantial quantities to supplement national demand.

Mr. Twumasi-Ankrah said Rice is one of the priority crops being promoted under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Campaign and stressed that the Ministry’s primary effort has been directed at putting in place a strategy for increasing farm level productivity.

He said Government intervention has resulted in improved yield from an average of 2.72 metric tons per hectare in 2016 to an average of 4.2 metric tons per hectare in 2019, adding that local rice production has increased from 688.000 metric tons of paddy production in 2016 to a total paddy production of 925,000 metric tons in 2019.   

Mama Gold complements Olam Ghana’s existing portfolio of leading national rice brands, including Royal Aroma, Royal Feast and Mama Africa. Olam also offers a variety of rice brands across Africa, such as Mama’s Pride, Mama Africa and Mama Gold in Nigeria, Riz Meme Casse and Bijou in Cameroon, and Royal Aroma and Mama Africana in Mozambique.

Mama Gold will be available across Ghana in 1 kg, 4.5 kg and 22.5kg pack sizes.