Former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Kwame Awuah Darko has warned Ghana could be plunged into a precarious food security situation.

In an exclusive interview with Nhyira FM, the rice farmer emphasized the need for deliberate government action to increase food production in Ghana.

“We need to take deliberate action to encourage agriculture,” he said.

Mr. Awuah Darko lamented the heavy duties he has to pay at the port for importing farming equipment, highlighting the lack of support for local farmers, especially rice producers.

“I pay huge sums of money to import equipment for my rice farming and this is a definition of lack of encouragement,” he lamented.

The former MD for the Bulk Oil Storage and Distribution Company (BOST) indicated that Ghana's agricultural sector has been neglected for far too long, and the consequences are dire.

“If we don't change our ways, Ghana may face serious hunger in the next 15 years,” he observed. “This is because we consume more than we produce, and this trend must be reversed”.

As a rice farmer, he has employed over 150 youth on his farm, demonstrating the potential for agriculture to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. However, he believes that more needs to be done to support local farmers and encourage agriculture.

Mr. Darko, who is a leading member of the National Democratic Congress, believes the NPP government has failed to address the country's pressing issues and that a new leadership is needed to take Ghana forward.

He urged Ghanaians to put aside their differences and vote for John Dramani Mahama in the 2024 presidential election.

“The country is in a miserable condition and we don’t need a honeymoon… John Mahama will start work immediately because the country is dying,” he said.