The former General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Edward Kareweh has commended the government for its recent decision to impose a ban on the export of grains.

He described the move as both positive and necessary given the country’s current food shortage.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Kareweh emphasised that, “Banning the export of grains within the country is a prudent decision. If the government is seeking funds from international partners to import grains due to a domestic food shortage, it makes sense to ensure that the limited supply we have remains within our borders.”

His comments come in the wake of the government’s announcement on August 26, which imposed an immediate ban on the export of key grains, including maize, rice, and soybeans.

This measure is in response to a severe drought that has impacted agricultural production in eight regions. Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, stated that the ban aims to secure the country’s food supply.

During a press briefing on August 26, Mr Acheampong declared, “With immediate effect, the government is banning the export of grains, including maize, rice, and soybeans, until the situation normalizes.”

Read also : Dry spell: Government bans export of grains with immediate effect

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Bismark Nortey, has urged the government to implement measures that will protect farmers in light of the recent ban on the exportation of cereals and grains.

Also speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Nortey emphasised the need for the government to ensure that farmers can sell their produce at competitive prices despite the export restrictions.

“The decision to ban the exportation of cereals and grains is not new. In 2022, the government took a similar position, which had a very negative effect on farmers,” he said on Wednesday.

Mr Nortey explained that when there are no restrictions on grain exports, farmers benefit from a broader range of buyers, including those from neighbouring countries.

This competition helps farmers to secure better prices for their produce, however, with the current export ban, farmers face a limited pool of buyers and are therefore unable to recover their investment.

“The challenge is that because the buyers now know that the farmers’ options are limited, they tend to dictate the price. Farmers, desperate to sell, are forced to accept these low prices,” he explained.

He noted that this situation mirrors the experience farmers had in 2022, where the export ban led to significant financial losses.

On the back of this, Mr Nortey called on the government to learn from past experiences and ensure that this new ban does not result in similar hardships for farmers.

“If the government is putting a ban on export, then the best thing is to insulate the farmers from experiencing those bad experiences from the past,” he urged.