Deputy Minister of Agriculture John Dumelo has called on Ghanaians to demonstrate greater patriotism by prioritising the consumption of food produced within the country.

Speaking on Joy News during a discussion on Ghana’s food sovereignty 69 years after independence, Mr Dumelo said choosing locally grown foods could significantly strengthen the country’s agricultural economy.

"Most importantly, I think we should be patriotic enough to consume what is Ghana-made. That is the underlying factor. If everyone gets up and says, look, tomorrow, we want to eat made in Ghana rice, or for the whole month of March, April, we want to eat made in Ghana rice, I think it will create some form of demand."

According to him, increased patronage of Ghanaian food products would help boost local farmers, stimulate agricultural production and reduce the country’s heavy reliance on imported food items.

He stressed that building a resilient agricultural sector, the government will play its role, and also the collective commitment of the private sector is crucial to support and consume what is produced locally.

"On our part, we are also trying as much as possible to create farmers' markets in all the regions so that when the goods come from the farm gates, they come straight to these farmers market and then individuals will be able to go and buy,"

"I can guarantee that by the end of next year or by the middle of next year, all these policies will be fully in place, and it will be a great time to be a farmer," he said on the show.

He has also called for decisive action to halt the smuggling of food products from neighbouring Togo into Ghana.

According to him, curbing such activities will help strengthen local food production and encourage the consumption of Ghanaian products rather than relying on imported goods.

Read also: Curbing food Smuggling from Togo key to protecting local industry — John Dumelo